











I 




•e 




t 

» k 


■. ^ b 


i. 


■ / ■ ■‘-TV16- ^ 

r/' 




£ 

• -A 


4 


T 

« 




• * . " ^ m 

1.1 


• t 


/••m.iT’ V 


» I-' 

* 

. V 


► « • 
••• 







>» 





*W. V '/ 

► k ► '• ., * ^ 

- : r-: 


•*>;^' '*;. ' * ■■• ,.-• .-..•^■iW'- ,. ij -' 

• 3 - - ■• S • '. . • .-. w ^ 

■• •^’■‘'-■•' ■'a.v -■'‘' '•' v" • v' 

.": . ■ ■ ■ • . ' ,- , -'.il &a- ' 


v- 


i. 




, r 

- 


..'t* 








7 ^ 




T‘ 




i'f*- 

%* 

• «*> -. ' 

■' a 


;\yferf 

^ ^ ^ • « 

j 




* • • » t '. ^ ■ ■ ' 4 » ,• 

V • ^ • 

. *' • • -* ■ > 


4 .' I 


. ' - ; V. . 

■' ■'• ■ * ■.'*■, 


’, >■ * k V 



v 2 ,- ^^* 6 < ?' 

'* : ^ '. tA* 1 








4 



I 


t 


r 


r 

I 

4 





' i 



« 





I 



4 


1 




I 



1 




^ • 


4 





/ 




K ^ 






» 





4 


j 


« 




f • 

♦ 

/ 


I 



w 

i* 


1 ^ “ 


./ 




*; * 

«• 



< •.- 


f 


t: 


•> 


i-' - 1 / .■ 







. <- 


j 1 _^- .. , 



V, 


•-* / 


t: 


* 

% 

I 


'7 


■V«» 


■H -. 


o' 


4 \V 





fc<.vv . ^ ..; 


4 '• 





* 




■t. 


• • ’ 



% y-.- . 







. ^ 




I ■ 



/ 




V 


I 


I 


I 







' ( 


I 


s 










•• . * • ■ > 

..^ - 

., • ■ ; 


V • 

k 


♦ 


V 


‘l 

I 


f 


•* 



• .'Vf *' ^ 

, f ■ 


s- 



f 


¥ 


« 




• > 


f 



» 


.» % 

i " 




THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 


Bt ROGER T. FINLAY 

Thrilling adventures by sea and land of two boys and 
an aged Professor who are cast away on an island with 
absolutely nothing but their clothing. By gradual and 
natural stages they succeed in constructing all forms of 
devices used in the mechanical arts and learn the 
scientific theories involved in every walk of life. These 
subjects are all treated in an incidental and natural way 
in the progress of events, from the most fundamental 
standpoint without technicalities, and include every 
department of knowledge. Numerous illustrations 
accompany the text. 

Two thousand things every boy ought to know. Every page 
a romance. Every line a fact 


Six titles — 60 cents per volume 


THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Castaways 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
Exploring the Island 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Mysteries of the Caverns 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Tribesmen 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Capture and Pursuit 

THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 
The Conquest of the Savages 


PUBLISHED BY 

THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 

147 Fourth Avenue New York 


/ 


Ail 

770 


THE WONDER ISLAND BOYS 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 








Ik£' ' •’ ' ■ '1^^' 


' . ' '-5 

i!n vt' ^#*^' 3.' ’ * " SB 







n* 




r. v; 


*1 





I 


. '•* * 





■ 4 ^ 


» 




k 


•t’ 



r- 


. »r 


..i- ; •■•?, '.‘.-Si 

f ' l '"'' • ■ i -J J . ‘ 1 E *^ 4 ii ?. ■ W ™ ■ 'V ■’' ■ ' » , I 

^'¥; .. 4.,. K-, ‘ : ■ - ■■- :. 


I; 


I r W, • r 

> 1 


Lif »‘ 







^:> < 




'‘Before they had gone 20 feet, a large leopard-like animal 
sprang transversely across their path^* 


[See p. 57] 


The Wonder Island Boys 

EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


BY 

ROGER T. FINLAY 


ILLUSTRATED 






THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 
New York 



Copyright, 1914, by 
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 


JUN -5 1914 





CONTENTS 


I. The Fourth Voyage of Discovery Page 11 

The journey into the forest. Restlessness of the yaks. 
The alarm. Wild animals. George Mayfield and 
Harry Crandall. Their companion, an aged Professor. 
Their history. How they were shipwrecked. Thrown 
on an island without weapons, tools, food, or any of 
the requirements of life. What they had accomplished 
previous to the opening of this chapter. Making tools. 
Capturing yaks and training them. The three pre- 
vious expeditions, and what they discovered. The mys- 
terious occurrences. The fourth voyage of discovery. 
Losing sight of the strange animals. The forest. Dis- 
covering orang-outans. Capturing a young orang. 
Christening the “Baby.” Its strange and restless 
actions. A shot. A 'wdld animal. The wildcat. 
Enemy of the orang-outan. Distances deceptive, and 
why. Peculiar sensations at altitudes. Tableland. 
The fifth day. Discovery of a broad river. Progress 
barred. 

II. The Mysterious Lights Page 21 

A mountain chain beyond the river. Adventures along 
the river. Decide to follow the river to the north. 
Camping at the shore of a small stream. Prospecting 
tour on the stream. The flint arrow. The arrow in the 
skull of an animal. Different kinds of arrows. Home- 
sick. The light across the river. The test of firing a 
gun. Disappearance of the light. Seeking explana- 
tion. The night watch. The early breakfast and start. 
Scouting in advance. Qualifications in scouting. 

III. The Bear Fight Page 32 

A coast line of steep hills. Shooting an animal. The 
answering shot. The wonderful echo. Calculating dis- 
tance of the bluff by the sound. The bear. The attack 
of the bear. The Professor’s shot. The frightened 
yaks. Recovery of the wagon. Death of the bear. 
Rugged traveling. Changing their course. Deciding 
to return to their home. Stormy weather. The trav- 
eling chart. Methods used to determine course in 
traveling. An adjustable square. Obtaining angles 
from the shadows. 


1 


2 


CONTENTS 


IV. The Disappearance of the Yaks Page 41 

Breezes from the north. Indications of proximity of 
the sea. Warm winds. What wind temperatures tell. 
The missing yak herd. Mystery of the turning water 
wheel. The mill and workshop. Their home. “Baby” 
learning civilized ways. The noise in the night. The 
return of the yaks. The need for keeping correct time. 
Shoe leather necessary. Threshing out barley. The 
flail. The grindstone. Making flour. Baking bread; 
How the bread was raised. What yeast does in bread. 
Temperature required. The “Baby” and the honey 
pot. The bread with large holes in it. George’s trip 
to the cliffs. A peculiar sounding noise and spray 
from the cliffs. An air pocket. Compressed air. Non- 
compressible water. 

V. An Exciting Hunt Page 52 

Earthquake indications. The seismograph. The theory 
about the interior of the earth. How geologists know 
the composition of the interior of the earth for miles 
down. The earth’s “crust.” The weekly hunting trip. 
Determine to cross South River .and explore. The lost 
hatchet found. IMaking a raft to cross the river. 
Going into the interior. Tlie sound of moving ani- 
mals. Caution in approaching. Discovering the beast. 
Two shots. The disappearing animal. Indications 
that the animal was hit. Trail lost. Returning to 
the river. The animal again sighted. Firing at the 
animal. Tlie shots take effect. The animal too heavy 
to carry. Return to the Cataract home. Finding the 
camphor tree. Its wonders as a medicine. Calisaya. 
Algoraba, a species of bean, or locust. Sarsaparilla. 
The trip to South River with the team. Finding the 
shot animal. The ocelot. Two bullet holes instead of 
one. The animal not at the place where it was shot 
the night before. Mystery explained by the finding of 
second animal which they had shot. Skinning the 
animals. 

VT. Hunting Vegetables and Plants Page 64 

The accomplishments of George and Harry. Theory 
and practice. Fermentation. How heat develops 
germs. Bacteria. Harmless germs. Tribes of germs. 
Septic system of sewage. The war between germs. 
Setting germs to work. Indications from the vegetable 
world as to the climate. Prospecting in the hills. 
Tanning leather. Bark, and what it does in tanning. 
Different materials used. The gall nut and how it is 


CONTENTS 


3 


formed. Different kinds of leaves. The edges of leaves. 
The most important part of every vegetation. Trip to 
the cliffs. Hunting for the air pocket. Discovery of 
a cave. Exploring the cave. The water in the cave. 
Indication of marine animal in the water. Eeturn to 
the mouth of the cave. Discovering the air pocket. 
Tlie peculiar light in the cave. Calcium coating. 

VII. Investigating the Prospector’s Hole Page 79 

Speculation as to the animal in the cave. Determined 
to explore the mystery of the “hole” in the hill. Trip 
to the hills. Difficulty in finding the “hole.” Acci- 
dental discovery of a rock. The “hole” found. Indi- 
cation that it was made by man. Why plants flourish 
around holes and stones. Moisture and heat. Object 
• of cultivating plants. Lead and silver ore. Zinc. 
Working with their ore furnace. Putting metals to 
work. Labor-saving tools, what they are and what 
they do. Poasting ore. Melting roasted ore in cru- 
cible. Recovering zinc. Light from zinc and copper. 
Harry bitten by a “cat.” The zibet. 

VIII. The Bull Fight Page 91 

Different fruit, flowers and vegetables. The thistle. 
Its nutritious qualities. Why animals can eat it. 
The sorrel and the shamrock. Significance of the 
latter. Vanilla. Smell is vibration. Harmony and 
discord in odors. What essences are composed of. 
Preserving seeds for planting. Food elements in vege- 
tables. Surprising increase in their herd of yaks. 
Investigation. The wild bull. Apollo, the bull of their 
herd. His absence. The wild bull charging George. 
Stampede of the herd. George carried with them. Ap- 
pearance of Apollo. Engaging in combat. Apollo the 
stronger. Reappearance of George. Return of the 
cows. Apollo the victor. Finding a brand mark on 
the wild bull. Inventory of their stock. Work in 
tanning vats. Tlie flash of Harry’s gun in the distance. 
Explanation of the difference in time between the flash 
and report. “Sound” or “noise.” Vibrations. Light. 
The locomotive whistle explained. 

IX. Exciting Experiences with the Boats Page 104 

Health on the island. Illness of Harry. Fever. De- 
termining temperature. Making a thermometer. Sub- 
stitutes for glass and mercury. How Fahrenheit scale 
is determined. Centigrade scale. Testing the thermom- 
eter. Determining fever. Danger point. Why a 


4 


CONTENTS 


coiled pipe tries to straighten out under pressure. 
Medicine for fever. Rains and rising Cataract River. 
Decision to explore sea coast to the east. Yoking up 
the yaks. Gathering samples of plants and flowers. 
The beach. Following the shore line. Discovering 
the boat which had disappeared from the Falls in 
South River. Surprising find of strange oars and 
unfamiliar rope in the boat. Harry and George decide 
to sail the boat around the cliff point to the Cataract 
River. The Professor takes the team home. Sighting 
an object on the cliffs. Going ashore at the foot of 
the cliffs for an examination. Ascending the cliffs. 
Discovering the wrecked remains of their life-boat. 
Consternation when their boat is w^ashed away from the 
shore. Getting the wreck of the life-boat down to the 
water. The watching and waiting Professor. The 
boys launch the life-boat and float to the mainland. 

“■ Meeting the Professor. Explanations. 

X. The Birthday Party and the Surprise Page 118 

Theory that their island is near some other inhabited 
island. The mysterious occurrences of the fire in the 
forest; the lights across the river. The disappearance 
of their boat. The removal of the flagpole and flag; 
the arrows; the hole in the hillside; the finding of the 
boat with unfamiliar oars and rope on it. Conclude 
to make another boat. Unsanitary arrangement of 
their kitchen. Purifying means employed. Different 
purifying agents. Primary electric battery. The cell; 
how made. The electrodes. Clay. The positive and 
the negative elements. How connected up. The bat- 
tery. Making wire. How electricity flows. Rate of 
flow. Volts and amperes. Pressure and quantity. 
Drawing out the wire. Tools for drawing the wire. 
Friction. Molecules and atoms. Accomplishments of 
“Baby.” Climbing trees and finding nuts. George as 
cook. Making puddings. “Baby’s” aid. Finding 
eggs of prairie chicken. Planning a surprise for the 
Professor. The birthday party. George’s cakes to 
celebrate the event. Harry’s gong. The missing cakes. 
“Baby” the thief. The feast. Why laughter is infec- 
tious. Odors. Beautiful perfumes wafted to long dis- 
tances. Bad odors destroyed. Why. Oxygen as a 
purifying agent. 

XI. The Gruesome Skeleton Page 133 

The Cataract water. Common oak chips as purifiers. 
Tannic acid. Bitter almonds. Universal purification 
of water. The Bible method. Albumen impurities in 


CONTENTS 


5 


water. Electric battery. The electrode. How the cells 
were made. Object of plurality of cells. Volts, am- 
peres and watts, and their definitions. A new boat 
determined on. Determining size of the boat. Re- 
covering their life-boat. Visit to Observation Hill. 
Hunting for the lost fiagpole and fiag. Wreckage of 
a ship’s boat discovered. The Professor sent for. 
Ascertain it is not part of their wrecked boat. Gath- 
ering up portions of the boat. Amazing discovery of 
skull and skeleton. IMethods of determining age. Con- 
dition of the skull and teeth. Carrying the remains 
to the Cataract. The funeral. The seven ages in the 
growth of man. Sadness. The skeleton at the feast. 
Why is death necessary. One of the many reasons. 

XII. » The Distant Ship and Its Disappearance Page 147 

The endive. Chicory. The principle in the plant. The 
root. Curious manner of preparing it. A surprise for 
Harry. Making clay crocks. How to glaze or vitrify 
them. The use of salt in the process. A potter’s 
wheel. Uses of the wheel. Its antiquity. Inspecting 
the electric battery. How it is connected up. Peculi- 
arities in designating parts of the battery. Making 
the first spark. Necessary requirements for making a 
lighting plant. The arc light. What arc is and means. 
The incandescent light. VTiy the filament in bulb 
does not readily burn out. Oxygen as a supporter of 
combustion. Carbon, how made. Essential of the 
invention of the arc light. Determine again to explore 
cave. The lamps, spears and other equipment. Ex- 
citing discovery of a sail. Signaling the ship. The 
ship disappears. Discouragement. Determine to make 
a large flag and erect a new flagpole. Visiting the 
cave. Exploring it. Mounting one of the lamps on 
ledge for safety. Water not found where it was on 
previous visit. Discovery of a large domed chamber. 
Bringing forward the light on the ledge. Entering 
the chamber. Disappearance of the light from the 
ledge. The outlet of the chamber. Searching for the 
lost light. Determine to chart the cave. Steps taken. 
Surveying methods. Substitutes for paper and pencil. 
Soot. The base, the angle, and the projecting lines. 
How the side walls were charted. 

XIII. The Exciting Hunt in the Forest Page 163 

An eventful day. Accounting for the disappearance 
of the water in the cave. T^e animal in the cave. 
Subterranean connection with the sea. Starting to 
make the large flag. Regulation flag determined on. 


6 


CONTENTS 


Tlie stripes and their colors, and how arranged. Their 
significance. The blue field and how studded. Its 
proportional size. How the yellow ramie cloth was 
made white. The bleaching process. Chloride of lime. 
The red color. The madder plant. Its powerful dyeing 
qualities. Coffee. The surprise party for Harry. 
Chicory leaves as a salad. Exhilarative substances 
and beverages. The cocoa leaf. Betel-nut. Pepper 
plants. Thorn apples. The ledum and hop. Narcotic 
fungus. “Baby’s” experiment with the red dye. A 
test sample. Test samples in dyeing. Color-metric 
tests in analyzing chemicals. Reagents. The meaning 
and their use. Bitter-sweet. Blue dye. Copper and lime 
as coloring substance. The completed flag. A hunt 
trip for the pole. Making a trailer. A pole fifty feet 
long determined on. Tethering the yaks at th'te river. 
Searching for pole. The shell-bark hickory. The 
giant ant-killer. His peculiarities. Weight of hickory. 
Weight of the pole. . Problem to convey it to the river. 
Determine to get the yaks. Swimming them across 
the river. The Professor absent on their return. 
Searching for the Professor. A shot heard. Going in 
the direction of the shot. Another shot from vicin- 
ity of the team. Returning in the direction of last 
shot. Find the Professor with team on way to river. 
How they made a circle without knowing it. A lesson 
in judgment. 

XIV. The Raising of the Flag, and Angel’s Part In It. 

Page 178 

Absence of Red Angel. The search. Sorrow at his 
flight. The morning breakfast. Reappearance of Red 
Angel with nuts. The honey pot and Red Angel. The 
voluntary exchange of nut for honey. How the orang 
reasoned. Preparation for pole-raising day. The cap- 
stans. The ropes and forked poles. The Angel invited 
to attend. How the pole was raised. Preparation to 
hoist the flag. The interference of Red Angel. How 
he mounted the pole. How honey was no temptation. 
George’s discovery that Angel had eaten all the honey. 
The ceremony of raising the flag. Trying to sing the 
Star-Spangled Banner. Tlie failure. Taking posses- 
sion of the island in the name of the United States. 
Significance of the act of taking possession. Heraldry 
and the bending of the flag on the halliards. The 
banner and flag in ancient times. Leaving the flag at 
half-mast. The banner in the Bible. The necessity 
for making glass. Its early origin. The crystal of the 
ancients. What it is made of. The blowing process. 


CONTENTS 


7 


An acid and an alkali. Sand as an acid. Lime, soda, 
and potash as alkalis. The result when united. Trans- 
parent and translucent. Opaqueness. Making sheet 
glass. Why the eye cannot see through rough glass. 
How sheets are prevented from being cracked. 

XV. Mysterious Happenings on the Island Page 191 

Heating the crucibles for fusing glass. Eliminating 
impurities. Result of too much alkali. A test sample 
of glass. Speculation as to the inhabitants of the 
island. Their knowledge of the presence of savages. 
Mysterious occurrences while on the island. Deter- 
mining to make further explorations for their own 
safety. The guns they had made. The hesitation 
about the trip inland. The hope for another ship. 

‘ Discussing the probability of meeting the savages. 
Questions to be decided in building their boat. Pos- 
sibilities of an island near them. Reasons for that 
view. A year from the time they sailed from New 
York. The spring. Planting a garden. Preparing 
the ground. The buckwheat. Propagation. Wild oats. 
How cultivated. Budding, grafting and inarching. 
Seedless fruit. Conclude to utilize the wrecked part 
of the life-boat as part of the new boat. Size of the 
new^ vessel. Its size and weight. What is a ship. 
A brig, a sloop. Single masters. The sails. Differ- 
ent parts of the masts. The bow^sprit and boom. The 
triangular sail. 

XVI. Discovery of the Savages’ Huts Page 20L 

The hunting expedition. The forest below South River. 
Suggestions of the Professor concerning the importance 
of that section. The trail through the dense woods. 
Wild animals. Different varieties of game. Directing 
course by the sun. Character of the country. Dis- 
covery of native huts. A vegetable garden. The sur- 
prising contents of the huts. Accidentally finding 
paper containing writing. Other articles of interest 
among the rubbish. A mineral spring. A mono- 
grammed silver cup. The return journey. Discussing 
the articles found. 

XVII. The Grim Evidence in the Hills Page 2ia 

Trying to decipher the writing traces on the paper. 
Conclusions. The Professor’s journey. Prospecting in 
the hills. Discovery of numerous fissures in the rocks. 
A skeleton in one of them. The telltale arrows. Mute 
evidence of the character of the inhabitants of the 
island. 


8 CONTENTS 

XVIII. Steange Discovery of a Companion Lifeboat. Page 222 
Work on the new boat. Variety of their work. The 
regular hunting day. The joke on the Professor. Old 
age. How old age becomes a habit. The discussion 
on hunting. Deciding where to go. Conclude to visit 
the forests to the west. Provisioning for the journey. 
Peaching the edge of the main forest, accompanied by 
Red Angel. In the proximity of the Falls. Decided 
to go in that direction. Reach the river. Searching 
for the spot where the boat was left and from which 
place it had been taken. No traces of the mooring 
place. Examining driftwood and debris along river 
bank. Amazing discovery of one of Investigator’s 
boats. Speculation as to the mystery. Evidence that 
it came over the Falls. Disappearance of the lockers 
of the boat, similar to those on their own. Discussion 
as to the fate of their companions. Decide to seclude 
the boat. Sudden appearance of Red Angel in excite- 
ment. Following him back to the location of the 
wagon. Disappearance of the yaks and wagon. 


LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 


“ Before they had gone 20 feet, a large leopard-like animal 

sprang transversely across their path” Frontispiece 

PAGE 

“George saw his peril and now realized that he could not pos- 
sibly reach a place of safety” 102 

“‘What is this? a party?’ said the Professor. ‘Yes; a birth- 
day party,’ said Harry” 118 

“ Bed Angel saw George’s design, and without saying a word 

he slowly descended” 182 

The Orang-outan 15 

Types of Arrow-head 23 

The Bear 35 

Diagram of Their Trip 37 

Bevel Square 38 

Sighting the Direction 30 

Threshing Flail 46 

Samples of Bread 48 

Air Pocket 50 

Normal Crust of the Earth 54 

Mountain Upheaval 55 

Branch of the Camphor Tree . 60 

Tanning Vat 68 

Serrate Leaf 70 

Bi-serrate Leaf 70 

Dentate Leaf 72 

Crenate Leaf ’ 72 

Cave Entrance 74 

Vegetation Around Stone and Hole 81 

Vanilla Plant 92 

The Mysterious Brand on the Yak 100 

Measuring Sound Pitch 102 

Thermometer 105 

Primary Battery 123 


9 


10 EXPLORING THE ISLAND 

PAGE 

Template for Drawing Wire . . : 126 

Complete Battery with Connections 136 

Human Skull 142 

Potter’s Wheel 149 

Forming Blade 150 

The Electric Arc 152 

The Chart of the Cave 160 

Betel-nut 167 

The Giant Ant-eater 172 

Chart Showing How the Boys Were Lost 176 

Pole Raising 180 

Making Sheet Glass 191 

Grafting 197 

Budding 197 

Inarching 197 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


CHAPTER I 

THE FOUETH VOYAGE OF DISCOVERY 

“I WONDER why the yaks are so wild and difficult 
to handle this morning!’’ said George, as he 
stopped the wagon and tried to calm them by 
soothing words. 

At that moment Harry, who was in the lead, 
sprang back with a cry of alarm, and quietly, but 
with evident excitement, whispered: ‘^There are 
some big animals over to the right!” 

The Professor was out of the wagon in an in- 
stant and moved forward with Harry. “You 
would better remain with the team, George,” was 
the Professor’s suggestion. 

George Mayfield and Harry Crandall, two Amer- 
ican boys, attached to a ship training school, had 
been shipwrecked, in company with an aged pro- 
fessor, on an unknown island, somewhere in the 
Pacific, over four months prior to the opening of 
this chapter ; and, after a series of adventures, had 
been able, by ingenious means, to devise many of 
the necessaries of life from the crude materials 
which nature furnished them ; and they were now 
on their third voyage of discovery into the un- 
known land. 

For your information, a brief outline is given 
of a few of the things they had discovered, of 
11 


12 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


some of their adventures, and of what they had 
made, and why they were now far out in the wilder- 
ness. 

When they landed they had absolutely nothing, 
in the way of tools or implements. Neither pos- 
sessed even a knife, so they had to get food and 
clothing and prepare shelter with the crudest sort 
of appliances. 

By degrees they began to make various articles, 
found copper, iron and various ores, as well as 
lime-rock and grindstone formations. With these, 
and the knowledge of the Professor, they finally 
succeeded in making iron and copper tools and 
implements, built a water wheel, erected a sawmill, 
and eventually turned out a primitive pistol or 
gun. 

During this time, however, they were interested 
in discovering what the island contained. The 
first voyage was on foot through a forest, where 
they saw an exciting combat between bears for 
the possession of a honey tree, and witnessed the 
death of one of them. By the accidental discovery 
of the honey tree they were supplied with an ex- 
cellent substitute for sugar. 

In the next voyage a large river was discovered 
to the south, which they named the South Eiver. 
The second voyage was along that stream, until 
they reached a falls, where they were compelled 
to leave the crude boat which was made before 
starting on this voyage, and they proceeded on 
foot. 

After a week’s adventure in the forest they 
found a fire plot, which was the first indication that 


FOUETH VOYAGE 


13 


the island was inhabited. As np to this time they 
had no weapons but bows and arrows, which they 
had made, they returned home hurriedly. On the 
journey they had the fortune to capture a yak 
and her calf, and subsequently became possessors 
of a small herd, two of which they trained. A 
wagon was built and a store of provisions gathered 
in. A crude machine was constructed to weave the 
ramie fiber, the plant of which they found grow- 
ing on the banks ; in addition they had success in 
making felt cloth from the hair of the yak. 

After providing many of the things which were 
necessaries, and several samples of firearms, as 
stated, they determined to go on their third voy- 
age of discovery. During the various trips sev- 
eral mysterious and inexplainable things occurred. 
First, the fire on the banks of the Cataract Eiver, 
about fifty miles from their home. Second, the 
disappearance of their boat, which had been left 
below the falls in South Eiver; and, third, the re- 
moval of their flag and pole at Observation Hill, 
a half mile from their home, during the time they 
were absent on the third voyage. 

They were now on their fourth voyage, and the 
incident mentioned on the opening page of this 
chapter related to the first large animal they had 
discovered. 

In a short time Harry and the Professor re- 
turned from the search. ^‘We have lost them, but 
shall undoubtedly find them later on,” was all he 
said. 

The forest was still to the south of them, and 
to the north the sea was now distant fully three 


14 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


or four miles, as the coast seemed to trend to the 
northwest, after passing the wild barley fields. 
The ground appeared to be more open and level, 
so a more southerly course was taken in that direc- 
tion. Before night they emerged from the dense 
forest, which still continued to the right. 

No stirring incidents occurred during the day, 
until night was approaching, when, on entering a 
straggling forest of detached trees and thick un- 
derbrush, George, who was in the lead, and act- 
ing the part of the scout, rushed back and held 
up a warning hand. The team stopped while 
Harry and the Professor quickly moved toward 
George. 

‘T have seen some orang-outans ; come quickly.” 

Moving forwardly they could hear a plaintive 
cry, not unlike the wail of an infant. All stopped 
in surprise. The Professor was the first to speak : 
^‘That is a young orang. See if you can locate 
him.” 

As they moved still nearer the sound, there was 
a scampering of several orangs, and not fifty feet 
away was a pair of babies, struggling to reach the 
most convenient tree. 

Harry pounced on the pair and caught one of 
them, which set up a vigorous shriek. The other, 
in the excitement, got too far beyond the reach of 
George, who, in his eagerness, was too busy watch- 
ing Harry’s captive to notice the other animal, and 
before he could reach the tree one of the grown 
orangs had reached the ground, gathered up the 
infant and again sprang up the tree. 


FOURTH VOYAGE 15 

“Give it some honey,” said the Professor, 
laughing. 

“What are the things good for, anyway asked 
Harry. 



The Orang-outan 


16 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


“Of course, you are not compelled to keep it, 
but while you have it feed and treat it well.” 

“What does it eat?” 

“Principally nuts and fruit, as well as vegeta- 
bles. If properly prepared they will eat almost 
everything man eats, except meats.” 

At first, as a matter of curiosity, they restrained 
him, and as it was near camping time for the 
night, the Professor suggested that it would be 
well to make camp close to the tree which had 
harbored the orang family. 

After a good supper the Baby nestled up in the 
mattress, and was sound asleep in fifteen minutes. 
When the boys arranged the mattresses for the 
night. Baby did not seem at all disturbed, and he 
slept peacefully until morning. 

After breakfast no effort was made to deprive 
the Baby of its liberty, but no attempt was made 
on his part to leave the wagon. He relished the 
honey and the other delicacies, all of which were 
undoubtedly, a surprise to him. 

The parent orangs were in sight on the trees 
beyond, but made no demonstrations, although 
they saw the young one crawling and swinging on 
and around the wagon. 

You may be sure that the petting Baby got was 
enough to spoil any infant. Probably, the par- 
ents saw the affection lavished on it, or knew that 
it was not curtailed of its liberty. 

When they again set out on the march Baby 
kept a firm hold on the mattress, or lazily swung 
from the cross bars of the wagon top. It was 
having the time of its life. 


FOURTH VOYAGE 


17 


Before noon of the next day, Baby began to act 
strangely. It would jump first to one side, then 
to the other. Harry, who was in the lead, was 
called up, and the wagon stopped. The antics of 
Baby looked like fear. Before Harry reached the 
wagon the Professor and George heard a shot, 
and the next moment something struck the canvas 
top and rolled to the ground. It was up in an in- 
stant and sprang to the back of one of the yaks, 
before the Professor, who was driving, could real- 
ize what was happening. 

George was off the wagon in an instant, and see- 
ing the strange animal on the back of the yak, drew 
his gun, and two shots rang out almost at the same 
instant. 

When Harry turned back, at the call of the Pro- 
fessor, he saw the animal in the tree, which was 
then alongside of the wagon, and without waiting 
to give a warning, had shot at it, the bullet going 
through its forelegs. The result was it fell, strik- 
ing the wagon, rolled over, and then sprang to 
the back of the yak. George’s nimbleness in jump- 
ing from the wagon, and running around, enabled 
him to get in a shot at the same time the Professor 
fired. Both of their shots took effect, and it rolled 
to the ground. 

‘‘What is itf’ asked George. 

“A wildcat; no wonder the poor Baby was 
frightened !” 

“How did Baby, inside of the wagon, know of 
the catf’ 

“The wildcat is the mortal enemy of the orang- 
outan. While they fear to encounter the grown 


18 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


animals, they will attack the young, and the orangs 
seem to have the instinct of danger from that 
source born in them.’’ 

The Baby’s nerves were unstrung with the din 
of the guns, and it was an hour before he could be 
calmed down. The wildcat was skinned, and it 
was days before the orang could be reconciled to 
the sight of the pelt or the smell of the animal. 

‘^That is an instinct in certain animals. Nature 
has provided them with warnings of danger when 
their enemies are near.” 

“What a short tail the cat has,” remarked 
George; “so unlike the tame cat.” 

“That, and the head, which is much larger and 
flatter than the common cat, as well as the shorter 
legs, show the distinguishing ditferences. Its 
color, as this one is, uniformly grayish-brown, with 
stripes running around the body, is a peculiarity 
found in the tame species, known as the Tiger-cat,’ 
to which they are the most closely allied.” 

Before nightfall fairly level ground was reached, 
and this being the third day, they judged their 
location was fully sixty miles due west of the Cata- 
ract. Far to the south and southeast the moun- 
tains could be distinctly seen, but the Professor 
did not think the ranges were very high. 

In the far west the cloudy aspect of the sky pre- 
vented them from judging of the character of the 
land, but it had the appearance of mountains, as 
well. 

“How far away are the mountains in the south, 
do you think?” asked the Professor. 


FOUETH VOYAGE 19 

“I estimate them at about five miles,” was 
George’s response. 

^AVhat is your idea, Harry?” 

don’t think George is far out of the way.” 

“Would you be surprised if I should put it at 
twenty-five miles, or more ?” 

“What makes you think so?” 

“Appearances are always deceptive when you 
have nothing intervening to measure by.” 

“Is that the reason distances on water are al- 
ways so deceptive?” 

“Yes ; have you ever noticed that you can judge 
distances better if the intervening landscape is 
rolling?” 

“I think that is true in my case. But there is 
another thing I have noticed : When I am standing 
on the ground and looking up at an object, it never 
seems as far as when I am up there looking down : 
Why is that so ?” 

“That is simply the effect of habit, or familiar- 
ity. You are accustomed to look up at objects. 
The perspective, the altitude, and the appearance 
of the heights are natural things to you ; but, when 
you are above, things below you have an entirely 
different perspective outline. Their arrangement 
is unfamiliar. Probably that is one of the rea- 
sons why we should always look upwardly in life, 
and not downwardly.” 

“But,” inquired Harry, “is that the reason why 
some people, when at an elevation, like a tall build- 
ing, or on a high precipice, say they feel like jump- 
ing down?” 

“That is a species of paralysis, growing out of a 


20 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


sense of insecurity. It is purely an unnatural sen- 
sation, that temporarily disorganizes the nervous 
system. I knew a man who, whenever placed in 
such a position, could not speak.” 

They were now on what might be called the table 
land of the island. A broad plateau, with fre- 
quent groves, and any quantity of young trees 
scattered about everywhere, gave a most pleasing 
view. During the fourth day of the journey occa- 
sional little streams, flowing to the north, were 
crossed, and in the forenoon they had to halt for 
two hours and camp during the heaviest rainstorm 
which had fallen since they came to the island. 

On the fifth day a broad river was sighted, flow- 
ing to the north, and before noon the banks were 
reached. Its width barred their further progress, 
unless a raft could be made large enough to take 
the team across. This was considered a hazard- 
ous task, and the distance from home was too great 
to take the risk. It was a larger stream than 
South Eiver. 


CHAPTER II 

THE MYSTEKIOUS LIGHTS 

The usual rate of travel did not average two 
and a half miles an hour, and while the first and 
second days were vigorous ones, they were not so 
much disposed to hurry up now, and were taking 
the trip more leisurely, thus giving more time to 
the examination of trees and plants and flowers, 
and to investigating the geological formation of 
the country. The new river was not, in all proba- 
bility, more than seventy miles from the Cataract 
home. 

Beyond, fully a day’s march, was the mountain 
chain — not a high range, hut an elevation which 
showed a broken skyline. The mountains below 
the South River did not now seem so formidable ; 
and directly to the south they could see no ranges 
or hill elevations. To the north the sea might be 
ten or fifty miles away. The river flowed past them 
at the rate of about two miles an hour. 

That evening, while sitting on the bank, Harry 
had an idea. “We made a mistake in calling our 
home river the West River. Let us call this the 
West, and rename our stream the Cataract River.” 

“Very well; as George does not object, the Geo- 
graphical Society will please take notice, and make 
the change.” 

George was of the impression that to settle the 
question of the direction they should take in their 
21 


22 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


future explorations, was the most important thing 
to determine. 

An entire day was spent in and about the vicin- 
ity of the river. New plants and shrubbery of 
various kinds were constantly sought for and ex- 
amined — they fished and hunted ; and on the morn- 
ing of the third day it was decided to move on. 

‘‘We have not yet sighted any original inhab- 
itants, and have found no signs of people living 
here; nevertheless, we had traces of a fire thirty 
or forty miles east of here. That is what puzzles 
me.” 

“I am in favor of following this stream to the 
north,” was Harry’s conclusion, “unless we make 
a raft and cross the river.” 

Harry’s view finally prevailed, and at noon of 
that day they camped at the mouth of a little 
stream which flowed into the West Eiver. Be- 
yond was a forest, and on the opposite side of the 
West Eiver the wood had all along been dense. 
At that point the trees did not come down to the 
stream, and there was considerable lowland be- 
tween the river and the forest. 

The Professor and George wandered up the 
banks of the little stream on a prospecting tour, 
as had been their constant practice. When they 
returned Harry knew something unusual had oc- 
curred from the excited appearance of George. 

“What is it! Any animals?” 

“No ; only this.” And George held up an arrow 
made of flint. The wooden portion of the arrow 
was really of good workmanship, and of hard, 
stiff wood. 


MYSTEEIOUS LIGHTS 


23 


Where did you find this 

“Not more than five hundred feet from here.” 

Harry looked at the Professor for an explana- 
tion, but he was silent. By common consent they 
now agreed upon making a more extended investi- 
gation of the vicinity for other traces, if possible. 
Within an hour Harry stumbled across the skull 
of an animal. This was not an unusual sight, as 
bones had been found at various places in their 
travels, but here was a specimen, lying on a rocky 
slope, with but little vegetation about it. 


q£ 



“I should like to know what animal this be- 
longed to!” 

The Professor examined the bones critically, 
without venturing an opinion. “What is this!” 
were his first words. Directly behind the ear cav- 
ity was a split or broken cleavage in which they 
found a round piece of dark wood. 

“Get the bolo, George ; we may find something 
interesting here.” With a few strokes the skull 
was opened, and embedded within the brain recep- 
tacle was an arrow. 

“This animal was, as you see, killed by the in- 


24 


EXPLOKING THE ISLAND 


habitants of the island. I infer that there are sev- 
eral tribes living here.” 

The boys looked at each other in astonishment. 

‘‘Why do you think sol” 

“This arrow is different in shape and in struc- 
ture from the sample we found this morning.” 

The boys now noticed the difference. 

“Do different tribes make their implements dif- 
ferently!” 

“There is just as much difference among sav- 
ages in the way they make their weapons and dif- 
ferent implements, as among civilized people. 
Our customs differ ; our manufactured articles are 
not the same ; and sometimes the manner of using 
the tools is unlike; and the divergence is fre- 
quently so wide that it has been difficult in many 
cases to trace the causes and explain the reasons. 
Such an instance may be found in the Chinese way 
of holding a saw, with the teeth projecting from 
the sawyer. For years all tools and machinery 
made in England could be instantly recognized by 
those versed in manufacturing, on account of the 
bulk, as their tools were uniformly made larger 
and heavy, as compared with the French and 
American manufacture.” 

This conclusion verified the Professor’s observa- 
tion, and you may be sure that the new discovery 
gave an air of gravity to the camp which it did 
not have before. 

“I also wanted to say to-day,” was the Profes- 
sor’s last remark that night, “I am satisfied that 
there is no intimate intercourse between the differ- 
ent tribes on the island.” The boys looked at 


MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS 


25 


each other without questioning, as usual ; but the 
next morning, as soon as George awoke, his first 
observation was : ‘T canT understand what makes 
you think that the natives of the different tribes 
do not associate with each other.” 

^‘Simply for the reason that the styles of the 
arrows differ so greatly. With them, as with 
civilized people, the intermingling of the races 
should tend to make their tools and implements 
alike.” 

The next night, after the evening meal, they sat 
in the wagon until late, discussing their future 
course. It was now fully nine months since they 
left home. The thought that their parents and 
friends would consider them lost was the hardest 
thing to bear. Did the boys ever get homesick? 
I need not suggest such an idea to make it more 
real than it was to them. With beautiful home 
surroundings, loving parents and brothers and sis- 
ters, absence, uncertainty; the fear that they 
would never again be able to return; danger all 
about them; the belief that perils still awaited 
them, which fears were now, in all probability, to 
be realized, all these things did not tend to pro- 
duce a pleasant perspective to the mind. 

But the Professor was a philosopher. He knew 
that the human mind craved activity. If it could 
not be exercised in a useful direction it would in- 
variably spend its energies in dangerous channels. 
He knew this to be particularly true of young 
people. 

Boys are naturally inquisitive. Their minds 
are active, like their bodies. They must have ex- 


26 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


ercise ; why not direct it into paths of usefulness, 
where their accomplishments could be seen and 
understood by the boys themselves. 

That thought is the parent of the manual train- 
ing system, where the education imparted comes 
through the joint exercise of brain and mus- 
cle. Boys resent all work which comes to them 
under the guise of play; and all play which is 
labeled ‘‘work.” But when there is a need for a 
thing, and the inquisitive nature of the boy, or 
his mental side, starts an inquiry, the manual, or 
the muscular part of him, is stimulated to the 
production of the article needed to fill that want. 

^ The Professor did not force any information 
upon the boys, as will be noticed. It was his con- 
stant aim to let inquiry and performance come 
from them. 

Could anything have been more stimulating or 
encouraging than the building of the water wheel, 
the sawmill, or the wagon? See what enjoyment 
and profit they derived from it. Thus far they 
had not given their time and the great enthusiasm 
to their various enterprises because of the money 
returns. Do you -think it would have made their 
labors lighter, or the knowledge of their success 
any sweeter if they had been paid for their work? 

The “Baby” went to sleep early, as was his 
custom now, and the boys and the Professor sat 
up later that night than usual, talking over their 
condition, and the situation as it appeared to them. 
The day had been exceedingly warm, following the 
rains. 

Harry, who was seated facing the river, sud- 


MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS 


27 


denly sprang up and excitedly grasped the Pro- 
fessor’s arm, as h6 pointed across the river ; ‘‘Look 
at that light!” 

There, plainly in the distance, was a light, not 
stationary, but flickering, and, apparently, moving 
slightly to and fro. 

“It seems as though it is at the edge of the 
woods,” remarked George. The distance was 
fully a half mile away. 

“It can’t be possible that people are over there,” 
said Harry, not so much in a tone of inquiry as of 
surprise. “How far do you think it is from here f ” 

“Probably one-half mile, or more. We might be 
able to learn something if we should fire a gun,” 
was the Professor’s reply. 

The boys were naturally astonished at the bold- 
ness of this remark. Other lights now appeared, 
some dim, others brighter. The firing of a gun 
seemed to them a most hazardous thing to do, but 
no doubt the Professor had a reason for making 
the suggestion. 

It was quite a time before either of the boys 
responded to this proposal. In their minds it was 
a daring enterprise. 

“If we should fire a gun the noise would likely 
startle them, and the first impulse of the savages 
would be to extinguish the lights.” 

George, who had the spirit of adventure more 
strikingly developed than Harry, was the first to 
concur. 

“I am going to try it at any rate; we might 


28 EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 

just as well know what we have to face now, as 
later on.” 

‘‘So you are really going to shoot?” said the 
Professor. 

“If you so urge it, yes.” 

“Then let me suggest what to do. All savages 
have a keen sense of direction. It is one of their 
chief accomplishments. You and Harry go back, 
up the river, a quarter of a mile, or so, and take 
with you one of our coverings. Then shoot behind 
the blanket, so the flash will not be seen, and I 
will remain here and watch the effect.” 

There was no delay in their preparations. 
Within fifteen minutes the shot rang out, and al- 
most immediately thereafter every light had dis- 
appeared. The boys were also keen enough to 
note the extinguished lights, and returned to the 
Professor in a hurry. 

“The disappearance of the lights is not conclu- 
sive evidence that human beings were there. It 
might have been a mere coincidence.” 

“Coincidence! Wliat do you mean by that?” 

“Did it not occur to you that the lights might 
be natural phenomena ?” 

“Of what?” 

“Of. phosphorescence.” 

“Do you mean ‘will-o’-the-wisp’ ?” 

“It is sometimes called by that name. It is 
caused by decaying vegetable matter, and exhibits 
itself in the form of gases of phosphorus, which 
appears to burn, but does not, like the vapor which 
is produced by rubbing certain matches in the 
dark.” 


MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS 29 

‘^But Low do you account for the disappearance 
after we shot?” 

thought they might have disappeared natu- 
rally, after you fired, and, therefore, said it might 
have been a mere coincidence.” 

This explanation was not a satisfying one for 
the boys, and the Professor did not place much 
faith in it, for the following reasons : 

believe it is our duty now to keep watches 
during the night, which we can do by turns, so 
that the sentinel will quietly awaken the next one 
in his turn, or both in the event of any unusual 
happening; and furthermore, we should make an 
early start in the morning.” 

George was the first watch, and, by agreement, 
Harry was to be the next, in two hours, for the 
second period. Before that time passed Baby was 
very restless, and George tried to soothe him; 
but before long he began crying. A lusty orang, 
however small, in a still night, makes an awfully 
loud noise. The boys never heard anything as 
loud and as frightful as that cry appeared to them. 

All were awake, of course, but the Baby refused 
to be quieted for fully a quarter of an hour. 

“HonT you think Baby’s cries will direct the 
savages to us?” 

^Tt is not at all likely. The savages have no 
doubt heard the cries many times. It is your 
imagination which is playing you tricks. Do you 
suppose the savages know we are here and have 
a captive orang?” 

During the rest of the nivht they took sleep in 


30 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


snatches, and morning was long in coming. Harry 
had busied himself in getting a hasty breakfast 
while the others slept, and Baby was up leaping 
around nervously, and springing from branch to 
branch on the adjacent trees. 

Having finished breakfast, the yaks were yoked, 
and before the sun was visible they were on their 
way to the north, as fast as the yaks could travel. 

The whole camp partook of watchfulness now. 
Every hour and every mile they scanned the land- 
scape, and, for further precaution, kept away from 
close proximity to the river bed. That was not 
a safe route, as enemies on the other side of the 
river would have an unobstructed view, whereas 
by traveling inland, but within sight of the river, 
they could still view the banks of the stream. 

‘^The scout who leads the way must go a certain 
distance, then make observations in all quarters. 
He must take particular note of objects which 
atford places of concealment, and the eye must be 
alert enough to observe every undue movement in 
limb or leaf. Sound is one of the things he must 
cultivate. A noise of any kind should be analyzed. 
A scout once told me that on one occasion during 
the war, his life was saved because he saw one 
limb of a tree move more than an adjoining one. 
At another time, in trailing through a forest, he 
saw a leaf on the ground, differing in color from 
those around it. In walking along he had noticed 
that some of the leaves he overturned had the 
same color, and inferred that as no wind had been 
blowing, and all the trees were bare, something 


MYSTERIOUS LIGHTS 


31 


must have turned the leaf, and subsequent events 
confirmed his reasonings/^ 

The boys quickly learned their lessons. Each 
knew that every step forward meant an entrance 
to an unknown world. 


CHAPTER III 


THE BEAR FIGHT 

During the day, following the night when the 
mysterious lights appeared in the lowland directly 
to the west and beyond the river, they passed 
through several dense forests. George, who was 
in the lead at this time, emerged from the thickest 
wood into a rather open plain. He saw the river 
make a long circular sweep, and directly ahead 
noticed a coast line of steep hills which marked 
the shore of the river on the opposite side. 

Harry and the Professor, who were behind with 
the team, had not yet reached the clearing. As 
George passed into the open space he saw an ani- 
mal cross his path, and without waiting to inform 
the others, he shot. This alarmed Harry, who was 
out of the wagon without waiting for any word 
from the Professor. Immediately after George’s 
shot was heard, they plainly heard another from 
the direction of the river ahead of them. The Pro- 
fessor, too, jumped from the wagon and followed 
Harry. George fired a second time, and another 
shot came from the river. Harry turned and 
looked back at the Professor in amazement. 

^‘What can that mean! Did you hear four 
shots!” 

‘‘Yes; run ahead, and find George.” 

In a brief time both boys returned. “George 
says he did not hear the shots from the river.” 

32 


BEAR FIGHT 


33 


“They were as plain as yonr own.” 

George did not know how to explain it. The 
Professor moved forward. “Let ns get out into 
the opening.” 

As they reached the clearing beyond the wood, 
and the Professor saw the steep bluffs beyond, 
he laughed, and looking at the hills, said: 

“That is where the shots came from.” 

His amusing smile was reassuring, although his 
words were not. 

“That bluff over there is about 2,000 feet from 
here. We had better find out what he is doing 
there.” 

“Two thousand feet ; and somebody there !” 

“I did not say somebody was there, but that the 
noise of the shot came from that place.” 

“Do you think it was simply an echo I” 

“Undoubtedly; didn’t you hear Baby’s cries re- 
peated?” 

“But how do you know that the hills are 2,000 
feet away?” 

“Sound travels at the rate of 1,040 feet per sec- 
ond, and I made a mental calculation that it took 
four seconds for Baby’s cries to come back from 
the hills. In that case the sound had to go to the 
hills and back again, and it would, therefore, take 
two seconds to travel one way. Do you under- 
stand?” 

“Oh, yes ; that is perfectly clear.” 

The land now became more rolling, and was oc- 
casionally broken by ravines ; and sometimes they 
had difficulty in getting their yaks and wagon 
across and over the rough ground. 


34 ' EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


Fallen trees were numerous; there were little 
mounds here and there, made by the remains of 
uprooted trees, which had long ago decayed, all 
of which made their traveling laborious and slow. 

Here wild animals became more abundant, and 
wild game was found on every side. Several good 
shots by the boys replenished their larder with 
bird meat. 

“See that bear!” cried Harry in great excite- 
ment. 

The boys, as well as the Professor, were out 
with their guns at once. “Follow him up quickly 
now,” and the Professor could hardly keep pace 
with them. The bear did not seem to be greatly 
frightened, and when Harry, who was ahead, 
stopped and aimed his gun for a shot, he was less 
than a hundred feet away. The shots from the 
two boys came close together, and bruin stopped 
in surprise, then, with a snarl, turned around and 
in a lumbering, shuffling movement started for the 
boys. 

If either shot had taken effect it was not notice- 
able. The boys turned to run, one going to the 
right and the other to the left. This did not 
seem to disconcert him in the least, as he went 
right on. He had seen the Professor, who stopped 
and sprang to one side and bringing up his gun 
awaited the charge of the bear. 

The boys, encouraged by the tactics of the bear 
in avoiding them, turned again, because they now 
appreciated that the Professor was in the bear’s 
path. 

“Don’t shoot, boys; let him come nearer.” 


BEAE FIGHT 


35 


‘‘AVlieii lie came within fifteen feet the Pro- 
fessor fired, and the boys also shot. The bear 
reared np, gave a terrific growl and again sham- 
bled forward, this time making a beeline for the 
wagon. This was too much for the yaks; they 



Figure 3 


The Bear 

turned, almost upsetting the wagon, and Baby 
commenced to shriek in the most approved fash- 
ion. 

Neither George nor Harry could wait any 
longer. They followed and rushed past the Pro- 
fessor, who now had the only loaded gun. 

“Take this, Harry ; your guns are not loaded.” 
Harry turned and grasped it and without stop- 


36 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


ping went in pursuit. Before lie had reached the 
former location of the wagon the animal ran into 
a tree, which threw him back on his haunches, and 
after several efforts to raise himself, fell over on 
his side. 

The Professor’s shot had entered his left 
eye, hut the vitality of the animal was such that 
he ran nearly a hundred feet before it took ef- 
fect. 

The yaks were soon rounded up. It is a won- 
der that more damage was not done. Aside from 
the displacement of their bedding, and the ditch- 
ing of some of the cooking utensils, everything 
was found intact. 

^‘That was a rather ill-advised adventure on our 
part. We should have guarded our supplies; but 
I was as much to blame as you were. We must be 
more careful in the future.” 

On every side the rough character of the land 
was more apparent, and it was becoming more 
and more difficult to find tracks which were suit- 
able for the team. 

“This matter of going further with our wagon 
is now getting to he a serious problem. I think 
we should turn to the right and move in the direc- 
tion of home, or direct our course southeast to- 
ward the mountains on the other side of South 
Eiver.” 

“I think we have discovered enough on this 
trip,” was Harry’s conclusion. 

George assented, so that on the twelfth day of 


BEAR FIGHT 


37 


their journey the yaks were directed towards 
home. For two days the travel was southeasterly, 
through the most broken and tortuous paths, cross- 
ing innumerable small streams and rivulets on 
their course. During this troublesome part of 
their journey the weather was stormy, with numer- 
ous rains, some of them so prolonged as to pre- 
vent traveling for hours, so that they made less 
than twenty miles during that time. 



On the third day, however, the ground became 
more level and less broken, the sun appeared, 
and they felt happy at the thought of getting back 
again. 

Thus far in their wanderings they had kept 
their reckonings, as well as they could without 
instruments, and that evening the chart was again 
consulted, as usual. The drawing (Figure 4) 
shows how it looked with the course of their 
journey. 


38 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


When they started from the Cataract home at 
nine o’clock in the morning, they made an obser- 
vation of the sun, using a vertical pole so as to 
get the exact direction of the falling shadow. A 
distant object was then selected, a prominent tree, 
as far off as possible. The Professor had pre- 
pared an adjustable bevel square, which was sim- 
ply two legs hinged together at one end, by means 
of a set screw, like a compass. 



“Now, boys, I want to show you how we can 
make a fairly good chart simply by the use of 
this adjustable square, and this will also be of 
service to us in measuring heights of objects, as 
well as directing our course. It is now nine 
o’clock, and you will see that our pole (A) throws 
a shadow to the southwest. Supposing now, we 
direct the first leg of our journey to that large 
tree (C), to the west of us. If, now, we put dne 
leg (D) of our rule along the shadow line, and 
the other leg (E) along the sight of the line (F), 
which goes to the tree, we shall find that the dig- 


BEAE FIGHT 


39 


tance across between the ends of the bevel square 
is just two feet. It happens in this case that the 
tree (C) is due west from our observation point; 
so we have at nine o^clock each morning a means 
whereby we can always determine the true east 
and west.” 

^^But supposing we lose our reckoning during 
the day, on account of cloudy weather, or by going 
through the forest, where we cannot make obser- 
vations f ” 



Sighting the Direction 

^We could, probably, travel an entire day in one 
general direction, without being more than a few 
miles out of our course, north or south, and our 
direction immediately made out the next day.” 

‘Wouldn’t it be a good idea to prepare angles 
at different times of the day, in the forenoon and 
in the afternoon I” 

“That is the proper thing to do, so as to enable 
you to make observations from the angles at all 
times. A chart could then be made from that 
which would show at a glance what the value of 
each angle is.” 

“We shall certainly have to do that; but what 
interests me as much is, to know how far we have 
traveled. Can we also tell that by the sun?” 

“Yes; but to do so will depend on the accuracy 
of the observation. For the present, with only a 


40 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


single instrument, the bevel square, we must be 
content to make our calculations exactly at mid- 
day, when the shadow points due south. Or, in 
the northern hemisphere, when the shadow points 
due north. I want you, in the meantime, to think 
over that problem, as it is a very interesting one, 
and we will take it up when we are not so tired.” 


CHAPTEE IV 

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF THE YAKS 

It was a relief to get on fairly even ground 
again, where it would not be necessary to make 
turns and twists around all sorts of obstructions, 
to say nothing of ravines and water courses. On 
the evening of the fifteenth day, calculations 
showed that they were halfway back from the 
point farthest west, but they still had no knowl- 
edge of their distance from the sea, which un- 
doubtedly was to the east, or, possibly, northeast. 
West Eiver flowed to the north, and all the 
streams crossed flowed north or northeasterly, 
how far, it was impossible to say. 

Two days afterward the scene changed some- 
what. There had been little wind during the jour- 
ney thus far ; but now breezes sprang up for two 
successive days, at about four in the afternoon, 
which came from the north. 

‘T think the sea is not far away.” 

‘‘Why do you think so. Professor?” 

“Did you notice the warm breezes this evening, 
and also last night at about the same time?” 

“Why should the breezes from the ocean blow 
warm winds to us at this time of the year when 
it ought to be cold?” 

“It is not at all likely that the breezes are any 
warmer than at other times of the year. Heat is 
merely a relative matter. We feel the difference of 
41 


42 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


the wind temperatures principally for the reason 
that when the vast body of water in moving ocean 
streams is giving off its heat, it imparts it to the 
atmosphere and modifies it, so that as it sweeps 
over the land it is warmer than the natural tem- 
perature.” 

The following day, late in the afternoon, they 
caught the first glimpse of the sea, and it was 
welcomed. A camp was made for the night in 
the open, and with an early start next morning 
the explorers reached the last hill to the west of 
the cataract. 

When they arrived home, which was not with- 
out considerable misgiving, owing to their long 
absence, they were overjoyed at finding everything 
at the house in perfect order, but their yaks were 
missing. 

This was, at first, a sore grief to them, especially 
to George, who considered it to be a personal loss. 
Milk was a luxury, as well as a necessity, to him. 
The team was now all that remained of their herd. 

‘Tt is strange we did not see any of them on 
our journey.” 

It was a surprising thing to see their water 
wheel in motion, although they had taken consider- 
able pains to push the wheel back so the blades 
would not be in contact with the water. It was 
found that the Cataract River was much swollen 
with the rains, so that the water had come into 
contact with the wheel. 

As the team was now the sole reliance, so far 
as the herd was concerned, the Professor sug- 
gested that they should thereafter keep the team 


DISAPPEABANCE OF THE YAKS 43 


within the enclosure, so as to prevent their stray- 
ing, as they might, in the absence of their fellows, 
try to escape. 

The present house, which had been built since 
coming to the Cataract, had originally only one 
room, and two of the sides were formed, as stated, 
by the walls of the right-angled rocks, the room 
being about ten feet square. 

After the water wheel was built and put in and 
the sawmill erected, they were enabled to get lum- 
ber, and an extension twelve by fifteen feet was 
put up, to be used as a sleeping and living room. 

A small addition was also added, which was con- 
verted into a kitchen, so that the original enclosure 
could be used as a storeroom. 

A sort of roadway passed the new addition, and 
beyond was the Cataract, not fifty feet away. 
Directly below the Cataract another building was 
put up, in one end of which was the sawmill, and 
at the other end was a sort of shed in which they 
had put up a furnace, blacksmith shop, and a kind 
of primitve foundry. 

Within the workshop work was done during the 
rainy weather, and it was made as comfortable as 
possible. 

They were now back, ready to take up active 
life again. Not that the past nineteen days were 
inactive ones. By no means; but they loved the 
work which every day had brought to them in the 
past, and were happy in the thought that they 
were accomplishing things of the greatest value to 
themselves. They were really tired, and for a 
few days did little active work. 


44 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


^^Do you think we have accomplished very much 
on our tripf’ was George’s inquiry the evening 
of their arrival. 

^‘We saw a light, didn’t we?” 

The boys laughed, when they saw that the Pro- 
fessor said it with a broad smile. They had no 
doubt, but he wished to convey the impression that 
they had seen a light, just as many others had, 
without being able to understand it. George saw 
the point at once. hope we may be able to profit 
by it. But, really, how much more do we know 
than we knew a month ago?” 

‘‘The West Eiver, the bear, the wildcat, the 
Baby; why, you had entirely forgotten him and his 
cute ways. We learned that there are, without 
doubt, savage tribes on the island. I am inclined 
to think the trip has taught us something.” 

The B^by was an interesting little chap. He 
would sit up at the table with innocent blinking 
eyes, and gravely imitate the motions of eating, 
especially if there was something sweet in sight. 

That night a startling noise was heard, made 
by the unmistakable tramp of animals passing 
their home. Harry was the first to open the small 
port, which served as a window. 

“Hurrah for our yaks !” There they were, back 
again, with two additional calves. The next morn- 
ing they were contentedly lying down outside of 
the enclosure which held their team. 

Didn’t “Baby” enjoy the milk ! So did the boys. 
The cattle had not strayed away far, but merely 
found a better feeding ground. The barley field 
had been exhausted. 


DISAPPEAEANCE OF THE YAKS 45 


‘Tf there is anything I missed on the journey, it 
was the clock. I don’t like guessing at time,” was 
George’s comment, after they had fully gone over 
their experiences on the trip. 

suppose,” said Harry, ^ Ve can make watches, 
but they will be rather cumbersome, because our 
tools are not very delicate. What do you think. 
Professor?” 

‘^That is for you to decide. I am of the opinion 
that as we have a pretty good clock, and as it is 
susceptible of being nicely regulated, we could put 
in our time more profitably in doing some other 
much needed work.” 

^What is that? I am willing to do anything?” 

^AVe have some hides that need tanning, and the 
fresh bear pelt must be cured. As our herd of 
cattle has increased we might slaughter several 
of them, so that we can dehair the pelts and tan 
them all at the same time ; then we need some con- 
trivances to enable us to determine the location of 
our island ; and also to afford a means to measure 
distances in traveling, because, I presume, you 
are just as anxious as ever to know what we have 
on the island.” 

There was a hearty assent to this view of the 
situation. 

want to do everything we can to learn about 
our surroundings,” was George’s response; ^‘and 
I would like to have the fire, and the mystery of the 
boat, and the flagpole cleared up.” 

The thing which most interested Harry after 
their return, was the disposition of the barley 
which they had harvested before the last journey 


46 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


was undertaken. This was welcomed by the Pro- 
fessor as a necessity. Accordingly a level floor 
was provided, on which was spread a thick layer 
of barley stalks, and this was beaten with flails. 
A flail is simply a piece of wood about the thick- 
ness and length of a broom handle. To this was 
attached, by means of leather strips, a club, not 
unlike a baseball bat, so the bat portion swung 
on the end of the handle, and in this manner the 
barley was threshed out. 



Before the invention of the threshing machine 
this was the universal method of threshing, al- 
though it was also customary to tramp it out with 
horses, which were driven over a thick layer of 
the straw hour after hour. 

In one day they threshed out five bushels ; beau- 
tiful golden grain. The boys who had often seen 
wheat and oats threshed out, never appreciated 
grain as they did their own, acquired in the manner 
this was. 

The grinding-stones, which they had previously 
made, were then set to work, making the meal, or 
flour, as they preferred to call it. Heretofore flour 
had been a luxury, and there was a longing for it, 
so it was decided to make up the first batch of 
bread. 


DISAPPEAEANCE OF THE YAKS 47 


You may be sure that the Professor did not ob- 
ject to activities in this direction; and they had 
long ago learned his peculiarities, particularly 
not to venture any information voluntarily, so the 
boys concluded to make bread on their own knowl- 
edge. They had often seen bread made. 

“All you have to do is to mix up the flour with 
a little water, put some rising in it and let it stand 
until it raises and then bake it.” 

“That’s all well enough, Harry; I suppose we 
can do all that, but where shall we get the yeast f ’ 

“That’s so; yeast is necessary; I suppose we 
shall have to see the Professor, after all ; but hold 
on; I have seen sour milk used, George.” 

“So have I ; but I think mother used something 
else with it.” 

“Well, there we are; who would think we could 
have trouble with such a simple thing as making 
bread!” 

“The Professor came smiling. You want to 
make bread, and the only thing that troubles you 
is to raise it so it will be light!” 

“Wouldn’t it be bread if you didn’t raise it! 
You know the Jews used unleavened, or unraised, 
bread.” 

“But we want regular bread, of course, and we 
want to know what to use to raise it with.” 

“I don’t see that you particularly need any- 
thing.” 

“Why not!” 

“If you let the dough stand in a temperature of 
between 90 and 120 degrees for a certain time, fer- 


48 EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 

mentation will take place, and it can then be 
baked.” 

^‘But why should it ferment?” 

^^Bread raising is merely fermentation. All 
flour is largely composed of starch. The high tem- 
perature, of 100 degrees or over, causes the starch 
to turn first into sugar, then into alcohol and car- 
bonic acid, and the gases thus formed force their 
way up through the dough, causing it to swell, as 
you have often noticed.” 


Ty.d. 

Samples of Bread 



Xmperfectl i / Jmi^ned . 



J^rtectbj leamied . 


Without further instructions the boys began the 
making of bread. Shortly afterwards the Profes- 
sor appeared laughing immoderately. 

“Come and see the Baby.” 

The boys were out in an instant. The Baby was 
in the storeroom adjoining, and discovered the 
honey pot. It was a “sight.” He sat there, both 
hands and arms covered with honey, blinking inno- 
cently, and licking his fingers and arms with the 
greatest joy imaginable. 

“You little rascal, you are getting too fat now,” 


DISAPPEARANCE OF THE YAKS 49 


was George’s greeting ; but Baby didn’t mind. He 
knew George by this time. 

The bread raised, but it, too, was a ^‘sight.” It 
was full of holes and at some places the bread had 
no appearance of having ^‘come up,” which is 
kitchen parlance for unraised bread. 

‘^What is the matter with it, Harry?” 

^‘Did you work it before you put it into the 
oven?” 

‘T forgot that.” 

When the Professor saw the sample he divined 
the trouble at once. 

‘‘Of course, you have to work it, for the reason 
that “working” distributes the gases through the 
mass. I think you made the mistake in working 
it and then putting it into the oven immediately.” 

“How long should it stand after working?” 

“That depends on the amount of carbonic gas 
which is developed. When it first raises the gas 
forces its way through the dough irregularly, and 
by then working it the gas is broken up and dis- 
tributed evenly, so that if the mass is allowed to 
stand after the second working every part of it 
will be leavened. When it is then put into the 
oven, the heat at first causes a more rapid expan- 
sion, or raising, of the dough, and as the heat in- 
creases, fermentation is stopped, and the baking 
process sets the dough. The result is tiny little 
holes throughout the bread, where the gases were.” 

“But why do they use yeast if it can be done 
without?” 

“Because it makes the raising process easier, 
and more positive.” 


50 EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 

^Ts it the carbonic acid which makes some bread 
sour?” 

^‘Yes ; sour bread results if the fermentation is 
continued too long.” 

It was George’s custom each day to watch the 
movements of the yaks, because it was through 
them that they learned of the barley field which 
was such a source of usefulness to them. One day 
while out on an expedition of this kind, he wan- 



dered down to the rock clitfs, probably five hun- 
dred feet west of Observation Hill, this hill, it will 
be remembered, being close to the landing place 
when they were cast on the island. The sea was 
heavy and the tide coming in. He could not help 
reflecting, and his home, his parents, and his beau- 
tiful life there came up to his inward vision. The 
dreary pounding sea made him homesick, and for 
the first time he burst into tears. But George was 
a brave boy. He knew that crying was useless, 
and felt a little ashamed of himself. 


DISAPPEAEANCE OF THE YAKS 51 


His reflections were not long, however. To his 
left he saw a peculiar sight. At every inrushing 
wave there was a report like a cannon shot, fol- 
lowed by a tremendous stream and spray of water, 
which was shot out to sea high up above the waves. 

This was an extraordinary sight to him, and un- 
explainable. The story was related to the Pro- 
fessor that evening. 

‘^That was an air pocket in the rocks.” 

^^What is an air pocket!” 

From your description it is probably a large 
cave, so situated in the wall of the cliff, that at a 
certain period the waves will entirely close the 
mouth. When the wave dashes up against the 
cliff and closes the mouth of the cave, the water 
tries to enter the cave. In doing so air is com- 
pressed in the pocket, and when the wave again 
starts to go out to sea, and the pressure is partly 
taken away, the compressed air explodes, so to 
say, and shoots out the water into a spray, and 
also causes the noise you heard.” 

‘®ow much can air be compressed!” 

^Tt is not known definitely how far. It has been 
compressed to less than one-eight-hundredth of its 
bulk. It is the most elastic substance known.” 

‘TsnT water compressible!” 

^^No ; if it had been compressible you would not 
have had that exhibition at the air pocket.” 


CHAPTER V 


AN" EXCITING HUNT 

^^What is that rocking?” cried Harry, jumping 
out of his couch, one night. 

The Professor was awake and had noticed it. 

^Trobahly an earthquake.” 

The rocking continued for several minutes, and 
then gradually subsided. They boys were so ex- 
cited that sleep was out of the question, for the 
time, besides the shaking might again recur at 
any moment. 

^‘Do you think there is any danger. Professor ?” 

‘Tt is impossible to say what will happen when 
these symptoms in the earth’s crust take place.” 

^^Are there not some instruments which indi- 
cate the extent and possible dangers of the 
quakes ?” 

aphere is an instrument called the seismograph, 
which records the vibratory movements of the 
earth, and also locates the distances at which the 
shocks are from the observer, but there is nothing 
to indicate what the extent and probable dangers 
are.” 

“Is it true that the interior of the earth is in a 
liquid state?” 

“Such has been the theory for many years ; but 
it is now believed to be a solid — a body with a 
density five and a half times greater than water.” 

52 


EXCITING HUNT 53 

‘Tf that is the case, why is it that the molten 
metal flows out of the volcanoes f ’ 

^‘There may be fissures in the earth, or portions 
less dense than others which, by the general disar- 
rangements of the adjacent parts, and by the enor- 
mous pressure exerted by the force of gravity, are 
contracted, and the movement causes such friction 
and intense heat as to liquefy the rock. In doing 
so a large amount of gas is evolved, the movement 
of which causes the disturbance of the earth^s 
crust, which manifests itself to us in the form of 
earthquakes. At the same time the confined gases 
seek an outlet, which they find at the weakest part, 
and the volcanoes spout forth the lava, flame, and 
gases. There is an undoubted connection between 
earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Earthquakes 
usually precede volcanic action. This internal 
combustion is going on at all times, and is only 
more violent at some period than at others. The 
lava in the Crater of Stromboli has been in a liquid 
state for more than two thousand years.” 

“Before we left home I saw in a paper that 
some scientist described the kind of rock and other 
matter which was seven miles down in the earth.” 

“Was anyone ever down as far as that?” 

“No ; a little over a mile is as far as man has 
actually penetrated the earth.” 

“Then, I should like to know how geologists can 
tell with any certainty what the rock is like sev- 
eral miles down?” 

“That is known just as positively as though a 
hole had been dug down that distance.” 

“I donT see how that is possible.” 


54 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


am going to make you a sketch which you 
can examine at leisure, that will show how he 
knows. Assuming that the earth has a crust — 
that is, the outside or cooled part, let the first 
sketch (Figure 10) represent this crust, before the 
mountains and valleys were formed. The slightly 
curved horizontal lines merely represent the differ- 
ent layers of the crust, such as rock, clay, coal, 
slate, and the like. When the cooling process took 
place the earth grew smaller within, so that the 
crust was forced together.” 



Normal Crust of the Earth 


The second sketch (Figure 11) shows this crust 
forced together, so that when the upheaval took 
place, two mountain ranges, A and B, were formed, 
with a valley (C) between them, and the broken 
lines (D), where the crust separated, were ex- 
posed, and by that means examinations can be 
readily made way down into the crust, without ever 
leaving the surface of the earth.” 

As it was understood that the boys should take 
at least a day each week for hunting, particularly 
since such sport would develop expertness in the 
use of their weapons, an early start was made on 
the day selected, which was within a week of the 
time they returned home. 


EXCITING HUNT 


55 


Ever since the disappearance of the boat left 
at the falls in South River, there was some anxiety 
on that score. It was a frequent topic of conver- 
sation, and after they left home it was by a mutual 
impulse that they wended their way south, taking 
a trail which was now familiar to them. 

^^See here, Harry, I should like to go to the place 
where I discovered South River, and where I had 
the experience with the snake and the strange ani- 
mal, which frightened me so.” 



Mountain Upheaval 


“Then we must go to the left, because, you re- 
member, you came up between these hills, and 
crossed the stream where I found you.” 

It was about three miles across from the Cata- 
ract house, but less from their original home. 
When they reached the river the surroundings 
were very much unlike anything George had seen 
before, and he could not identify the place where 
the ramie plant had been found. 

The ocean could be seen plainly from their posi- 
tion, and George thought they were too far east, 
which proved to be the case. 

“Here it is, Harry ; here is a low place, and you 


56 . EXPLORING THE ISLAND 

can see the ramie plant all about here. I am sure 
of it.’’ 

^Ts this the place you lost the hatchet !” 

^‘So I did: I’ll show you the place.” But he 
failed to find the hatchet. Subsequently Harry 
stumbled across it, but it was found some distance 
from the place where George declared he lost it. 

‘‘Let us try to cross the river. We can do it if 
we find a couple of logs.” 

At a bend of the river they found a lot of 
driftwood caught in the roots of a tree, and after 
some work a number of pieces were cut and laid 
crosswise on each other. 

After the experiences of several expeditions 
of this kind, to say nothing of the exploring 
trips, the need of the bolo and ropes impressed 
itself on their minds. They were never without 
them. 

The river at this point was fully one hundred 
feet wide, but by the aid of long poles the raft 
was not long in making the trip. After properly 
securing it they took up their weapons and at once 
made a dive for the interior. 

The trees were fairly thick, and before going 
very far Harry checked George with the state- 
ment that there was game ahead, as he had heard 
rustling sounds in the leaves. 

Both were now looking forward intently, expect- 
ing and hoping that some game worthy of atten- 
tion would appear. Whenever they stopped, the 
animal, or what it was, would stop, to resume its 
motion whenever they moved. This was getting 
to be decidedly interesting, and at the same time 


EXCITING HUNT 


57 


trying to the hunters. The distance was fully a 
mile from the river. The noise which came from 
the slight rustling of the leaves and the occasional 
breaking of a twig was growing acute. 

“Are we hunting or being hunted f ’ said George, 
under breath. 

Not forgetting the Professor’s story of the hunt- 
er’s careful scrutiny of leaves, they adopted that 
plan, but it gave them no clue. Whatever it was, 
it was in front of them, but they were unable to 
get a glimpse of it. 

Once, by agreement, they stopped and were 
silent for several minutes. The silence was just 
as profound and continued as their own. It was 
getting tense, when George hit upon a plan. 

“Let us be quiet for a minute or so, and then sud- 
denly bound forward and give a whoop. I think 
that will frighten him, and enable us to sight him.” 

“Before doing that get the guns ready for a 
shot, and don’t fire too soon. Don’t get excited. 
Eemember the Professor’s warning ; a shot close at 
hand, deliberately aimed, is more positive than a 
dozen shots excitedly fired at a distance.” 

“When all was ready Harry whispered, “Now !” 

With a whoop both started forwardly on a run 
as fast as the dense underbrush would permit. Be- 
fore they had gone twenty feet a large leopard- 
like animal sprang transversely across their path, 
then, seeing the boys, crouched for a spring. The 
guns were cocked and ready, and it is a wonder 
that in the excitement there was not a premature 
shot. 

“Now, steady,” said Harry. “Aim, fire!” and 


58 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


the moment both shots rang ont. Harry cried ex- 
citedly, ^^Now for the other guns !” 

The other guns were not necessary then. The 
animal gave a savage growl and bounded to the 
left, and after they had time to recover, both 
moved toward the spot. 

^^We have hit him, sure,” was George’s exultant 
shout. ^‘See the blood on the leaves. My ! he was 
as big as a lion !” 

“Let’s follow him,” was Harry’s determination. 
And off they started, the blood tracks plainly 
showing the way. Not a further view was obtain- 
able of the animal, and in less than a quarter of a 
mile all blood traces disappeared, to the chagrin 
of both. 

They directed their steps toward the river, but 
within two hundred feet of the spot where they had 
last stopped, George stepped back and cried: 
“There he is now, right ahead of us.” 

“Let us be careful now; he may be angry.” 
There was no alternative but to fire. The shots 
were almost at the same instant, and to their great 
relief the animal, after a single leap, fell down 
without a groan. 

The approach was cautious, because experience 
had not taught them whether it was safe immedi- 
ately to make an examination of the body. After 
some hesitation they went up closer, and when all 
doubts as to his death had been dispelled a careful 
examination was made. 

They found only a single shot wound between 
the shoulders. 

Here was a dilemma, surely enough. The river 


EXCITING HUNT 


59 


fully a half mile away, if not more, and the brute 
too large to carry, made them hesitate about at- 
tempting to skin it in the absence of the Professor. 

‘T wish we knew what kind of an animal it is. 
We had better go home and bring the Professor 
back with us in the morning.” 

So taking note of the surroundings, to familiar- 
ize themselves with the location, they hurried back 
to the river, and rafted themselves over. The 
Cataract home was reached about four o’clock, 
after one of the most adventurous days spent on 
the island, although, in some respects, not as ex- 
citing as their earlier experiences. They had be- 
gun to be veterans. They were not merely boys. 

Naturally, the Professor heard a stirring tale, 
and when it was all told over and over again, he 
told them he thought that undoubtedly the region 
beyond the river would turn out to be their hunting 
preserves, a statement which the boys did not for- 
get to profit by, as we shall see later on. 

‘T wonder why we haven’t seen more animals 
north of the South Eiver ? There have been very 
few in this section,” was George’s observation. 

‘‘Undoubtedly the mountain region affords them 
safer retreats, and it is one of the things which 
indicate to me that we shall find that section very 
wild, and when we are in shape to do so may be 
able to have some interesting and exciting times 
in that part of our domain,” was the Professor’s 
response. 

“But in South Africa wild animals are found in 
abundance on the plains.” 

“True ; but they have very thick brush, or cover. 


60 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


owing to the luxurious growth of vegetation. That 
affords them means for covering their retreat 
when attacked.” 

Following out the usual custom while on expedi- 
tions of this kind, they constantly, while on the 



IB. JJt^andi ortks 


way, stopped to examine specimens of plants and 
trees. 

‘^Here is a branch, with the flower, of a tree, and 
the smell is very familiar.” 

‘^That is from a camphor tree ; do you not recog- 
nize it?” 

‘‘So it is ; I know camphor is good for a great 
many things.” 


EXCITING HUNT 


61 


‘Tt would take some time to enumerate the 
things camphor is used for. Indeed, there are so 
many that Raspail, a French chemist, years ago 
found a system of medicine largely on the cam- 
phor plant, claiming that it was nature’s universal 
remedy.” 

‘‘Here is a sample of plant which we found grow- 
ing in bushes ; there were also a few trees with the 
flowers. It is bitter to the taste.” 

“This is the Calisaya, one of the varieties of the 
plant from which the well-known quinine is made. 
There are at least forty varieties of the plant. 
This is indeed a valuable And. But I see you have 
some beans there?” 

“Yes; are they good to eat?” 

“In South America, particularly in the Argen- 
tine Eepublic, it is eaten as a fruit, and the seeds 
are fed to cattle. Our yaks would relish them.” 

“We saw them everywhere on the other side of 
the river.” 

“The dry pulp of the seed is very nutritious, 
and is supposed to have been the food of St. John 
while in the wilderness, as it is the same kind of 
locust bean that grows in Palestine, and in various 
parts of Asia Minor. The Spanish name is Algo- 
raba, or Carob-tree.” 

“We have brought only one more sample, and 
it looks very familiar, but I never saw any beans 
or pods on it like this.” 

“Don’t you recognize Smilax? Of course, it is 
somewhat ditferent from the kind you know. The 
root of this kind of Smilax is called Sarsaparilla, 
and the bean is good to eat.” 


62 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


“Well, I am going to lay in a supply.” 

The boys could not forget the animal they had 
shot when morning came, so at the Professor’s 
suggestion, they improvised a raft, which was 
loaded on the wagon, and a start made for the 
river. 

Tethering the team the raft was launched, and 
the Professor accompanied them across. A light 
skid had been made for use in transporting the 
hide, so they would not be compelled to carry it 
the entire distance. Before they had reached the 
spot pointed out by the boys, they stumbled on 
the animal. 

“Why,” said the Professor, “this is an Ocelot, 
very dangerous when attacked, and just the kind of 
beast to elude you. I commend you for the good 
judgment in adopting the course you did.” 

“See here, Harry; I don’t understand this. You 
will remember when we examined him, just before 
leaving him here, that we found only one bullet 
hole between the shoulders; this has two bullet 
wounds, one in the head and the other in the neck.” 

“Why this is not the place we shot him. This 
must have been shot by some one else.” 

“Do you remember what you selected as your 
marking for the spot?” 

Harry looked about, and finally said: “I re- 
member two trees, standing about ten feet apart, 
east and west of each other.” 

“That is the place, I am sure,” was George’s 
conclusion, after they had made a circuit around 
the spot; “yes, I am sure those are the trees.” 

“There it is ; I see it.” 


EXCITING HUNT 


63 


Surely enough, close to the two trees an animal 
was found, larger than the one they had just left. 

“So it seems you killed two of them,” and the 
Professor was so much amused he could not help 
laughing as he saw the amazement on the boys^ 
countenances. “You are certainly fine hunters.” 

“I think — ^yes ; here is the shot in the shoulder — 
this is the last one we shot. The other one, over 
there, was the one we followed so long and took 
our first shot at.” 

Within two hours the skins were ready, packed 
on the skid, and delivered at the raft, and after 
a hard forenoon’s work the Cataract was reached 
shortly after noon. 


CHAPTER VI 

HUNTING VEGETABLES AND PLANTS 

One night', while engaged in the usual evening 
discussion, many topics were mentioned, things 
connected with the day’s adventures talked over, 
and plans for the following day considered. 

As usual, George was the persistent questioner, 
but Harry was the one to utilize the meaning, and 
generally the first to take advantage in a practical 
way of the information thus obtained. 

We have stated heretofore that George was the 
theorist and Harry the practical one. George de- 
lighted to delve down into mysteries; but Harry 
utilized the knowledge in constructing and build- 
ing articles. Both, therefore, had useful accom- 
plishments. To learn and to do are the great 
things in life. ^ 

During the day the boys had turned out a nice 
sample of bread, and George, as usual, began the 
questioning : 

^Professor, you said the other day, that fer- 
mentation caused a change in the dough, and that 
it was due to heat. I am curious to know why 
heat should cause it to ferment f’ 

^‘Heat develops bacteria, a tiny germ, which 
grows so rapidly in a short time, that millions are 
produced. These living organisms cause gases to 
form, and they continue to breed and grow and 
64 


HUNTING VEGETABLES 65 

multiply so long as they have anything to feed 
on.” 

“And we eat all that stuff and call it good?” 

“Yes; and why not? Every part of your body 
contains the little creatures, and they really keep 
you alive, and preserve your health, as well as 
prevent diseases.” 

“Why so?” 

“Most germs are of the harmless type, and it is 
because of the vast numbers of the harmless ones 
that the few poisonous or disease germs are killed. 
Water has millions of them in every cubic inch. 
Professor Dewar, a great English chemist, calls 
them nature’s policemen. - If a typhoid fever 
germ, for example, should be introduced among so 
many germs, as is the case every day, a fight at 
once takes place, and where a person is finally 
attacked with the fever, it is because the germs 
escaped the policemen who were on duty.” 

“That sounds like a romance.” 

“Yes ; the life history of those germs is really 
a wonderful thing, and books have been written 
about them. They exist in tribes, as it were ; some 
of them can live only where oxygen is present, and 
some live on nitrogen only ; others on carbon. But 
that is not all. Man has learned to use them, so 
they will work just as surely as our yaks work 
for us under our direction.” 

“How interesting! In what way do we use 
them?” 

“In what is called the septic system of treating 
sewage. You know that sewage from the kitch- 
en contains all kinds of meat and vegetables, and 


66 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


the more it has fermented the stronger becomes 
the odor and the greater are the number of bac- 
teria in the sewage. The sewage in the liquid 
state is first placed in a reservoir, and at a certain 
temperature the germs grow very rapidly, and, of 
course, eat up the vegetable and animal matter 
until it is nearly all consumed. Then it is run 
oif into another reservoir which has another tribe 
of germs in it, those that live on carbon, and which 
are not harmful to man, and when these two tribes 
meet war is declared, and they fight to the death. 
The harmless germs are victorious in every bat- 
tle, and when the sewage is discharged into a 
stream, or used for irrigating purposes, few, if 
any, of the harmful germs remain.” 

^^So in using germs the object is to cultivate one 
kind to kill another kind?” 

“Not always ; chemists have found out that man 
and animals absorb oxygen and expel nitrogen, in 
order to live; and that plants take in and live on 
nitrogen, and give out oxygen. They further 
learned that certain germs make nitrogen, just 
the same as we found that certain germs made 
carbonic gas in the dough; so that the United 
States Department of Agriculture, through its 
chemical division, concluded to set the germs to 
work, and the department will now send a box 
containing millions of the tiny creatures to any 
farmer who applies for them.” 

“When they get them, how do they set them to 
work?” 

“The germs are thrown into a tub of water, and 
the seed, like corn, is put into the water and al- 


HUNTING VEGETABLES 


67 


lowed to remain for a certain length of time. 
When the seed is taken out, more or less of the 
germs remains on each kernel, and when it is put 
into the ground the germs keep on working, mak- 
ing nitrogen which the growing plant absorbs. It 
is wonderful to see the effect in a field where one 
row has these germ-infected seeds, and the other 
rows are not so treated.” 

It was now May, and the weather was slightly 
cooler, but there was neither snow nor frost. 
North of the equator it was growing warmer, be- 
cause the winter had passed. Here the summer 
had gone, and winter was coming on. From every 
indication they were not in a cold climate. 

“Why do you think we shall not have any snow 
was Harry’s inquiry. 

“I notice too many trees, as well as shrubs and 
flowers, which could not live if we had frosts or 
freezing weather. Many of the trees about here 
do not shed their leaves, and the kind of animals 
which we now know exist here are sufficient evi- 
dence that we need not fear cold weather.” 

For more than a week the boys and the Profes- 
sor put in their time prospecting in the hills and 
in carting various ores and mineralogical samples 
to their workshop. 

The pelts which were on hand needed curing and 
besides there were also four yak pelts which had 
to be tanned, as shoe leather was badly needed. 
The hide originally dehaired was long ago ready 
for tanning, as well as the later ones. 

“What shall we use for the tanning process?” 

“The bark of certain trees must be procured, so 


68 EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


if you can find either oak, hemlock, birch or beech 
trees, we can probably make a tanning compound 
which will serve our purpose.” 

^Tn what way will the bark of those trees tan 
the leather?” 

‘^All the barks named contain what is called tan- 
nic acid. Other elements also are used, such as 
gallic acid, alum, sulphate of iron, and copper, 
salt, and other agents.” 

‘^What are the chemicals for?” 



yds Va6 . 


“The tannic acid or the chemicals act on the 
skins, or, rather on the gelatin, glutin and albumen 
in the skins, and thus harden the texture and pre- 
serve it. Where tannin is not used and only the 
chemicals are employed, it is called Tawing^ the 
leather, instead of ^tanning.’ ” 

“Well, we can get the bark; I know where there 
are several oak trees, and also a number of beech 
trees.” 

“Then gather the bark by all means, and by the 
way, if you can find gall nuts we could use them to 
advantage.” 

“We don’t know what they are.” 



HUNTING VEGETABLES 69 

“Then, if you can get some sumac, we can use 
that.” 

“Yes, I know ; the kind with the long, red leaves.” 

“That is what I mean.” 

“Do the gall nuts have tannic acid ?” 

“Yes ; but principally gallic acid, but gallic acid 
will also tan the skins so as to make leather. The 
principal use of the gall nut is for making ink.” 

“What kind of tree does the gall nut grow on?” 

“On any kind of tree or bush.” 

“That is rather odd.” 

“It is not the fruit of any tree, but is produced 
by the gall fly, which punctures almost any kind of 
tree or shrub. In this puncture the insect lays its 
eggs, and the tree in trying to treat the wound 
covers up the egg, and the sap, flowing from the 
tree, forms a sort of nut which finally hardens and 
produces a most bitter substance deposited by the 
fly. The nut is about the size of a marble, and 
must be gathered before the larva is hatched out. 
It is the most valuable nut in the world.” 

The necessary bark for the tanning process was 
ready within the next two days, and a tank pre- 
pared in which the hides were laid spread out, 
with the bark between them and covered with 
water. 

“In our conversations. Professor, you have the 
habit in describing plants, and especially the leaves 
to call them by certain names. It would help us 
if we knew just what you meant by the ditferent 
names you give them.” 

“That is a wise suggestion, because it has been 
said that the basis of knowledge, or of true science, 


70 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


is correct definitions.* What is meant by that is 
this: We should both have an understanding of 
the term used to describe a thing. In our talks I 
have tried to avoid the use of what is called tech- 
nical terms, but it is difficult to describe some 
things without using such terms, and I have for 
some time thought of making a list of the things 
we are talking about, and defining them, so you 
can at any time go there and look up the defini- 
tion.” 




‘Tf you would make drawings of the different 
kinds of leaves and give their names we could hang 
them up and could look at them any time.” 

‘^The leaf is the proper part to commence on, be- 
cause it is the most important thing of every plant, 
or tree, or shrub.” 

“What, more important than the fruit or the 
flower, or the nut that grows on the tree !” 

“That is just what I mean. When you smell the 
rich red flower of the rose, or look at the pure 
white petals of the lily, or the sweet-smelling blos- 

* Each of these books has the Professor’s definitions on the last 
pages. 


HUNTING VEGETABLES 


71 


soms of the orange or the jasmine, you are simply 
seeing or smelling leaves. The fruit itself, 
whether in the form of an apple, or a berry or a 
nut, is simply a form of leaf, a perfected form of 
the plant, or bush, or tree. Originally all these 
fruits, flowers and nuts were but leaves in an 
undeveloped state. 

never heard of such a thing before.” 

^Tt is a subject treated of in botanical knowledge 
which is called Morphology, and the object is to 
show that every fruit and flower was developed, in 
accordance with a well-known law, from the par- 
ticular shape or form of the leaf. We can go into 
that branch of the subject later on. What we 
now want is to know something about the shape of 
the leaf, so we can have a starting point. There 
are two particular things about leaves; one has 
reference to the shape of the leaf, and the other 
to the way in which the edges are formed. To sim- 
plify the explanation, the drawings which I make 
pertain only to the edges. That will be sufficient 
for one time. 

‘^Look at Fig. 14. The edges are like the teeth 
of a saw. This is called the serrate leaf. The 
rose and the common nettle have such leaves. 

^^Fig. 15 shows a leaf with a saw tooth edge 
wherein the teeth themselves have a lot of little 
saw teeth, as in the nettle-leaved bell-flower, and 
this is called bi-serrate. 

“Fig. 16 has very large, sharp teeth, not point- 
ing in any particular direction, like the oak leaf. 
This is called the dentate, or tooth. 

“Fig. 17 has rounded projections instead of an- 


72 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


gular teeth, and is called crenate. Ground ivy 
and horseradish have such leaves. 

^^When we make drawings of the shapes of the 
leaves that will take us along another step, and 
thus enable us to find out just what kind of tree 
or plant we are talking about.’^ 

The following day Harry proposed a trip over 
to the cave which George had discovered at the 




17, Cmna^ . 


time he found the big air pocket that shot water 
and spray out into the ocean. 

“I am interested,” he said, ‘fin seeing the air 
pocket George spoke about, and we might as well 
take our vacation to-day.” 

“As the distance is not great we need not bother 
about taking our luncheon along.” And off they 
started, with the Professor bringing up the rear. 

The course was first to Observation Hill, where 
they had erected a new and a larger pole than 
the one which had so mysteriously disappeared 


HUNTING VEGETABLES 


73 


two months before. On every such visit it was the 
duty of the one who made the trip to scan the 
horizon in every direction. 

It must not be inferred that because the boys 
were engaged in work which was all-absorbing that 
they had no thoughts of home, and had given up 
all hopes of a final rescue. If they could only let 
the people at home know they were alive and happy 
— that is, in learning the secrets of nature and in 
the exciting exploring trips, they would be satis- 
fied. 

They had no time to think of these things when 
they were at work, but in the night their thoughts 
often wandered back again to their homes and 
friends. Could they be blamed for that home-sick 
feeling which came over them? 

^^Now lead the way, George ; we want to see some 
more of your mysteries. Isn’t it fortunate that 
the tide is out? It will give us a good chance 
to investigate.” 

The path which George had taken was farther 
to the right, but as he was in a hurry to get down 
as quickly as possible he followed a course, which 
was much steeper, with Harry and the Professor 
close on his heels. 

When the bottom was reached there was no sign 
of a pocket, or a cave, or anything of that kind. 
George was very much annoyed. He could not be 
mistaken in the position, as it was directly to the 
right of Observation Hill, and not three hundred 
feet from the spot where Harry had landed on his 
first trip to the island. 

^Tt seems to me, George, we are too low down. 


74 


EXPLOEINa THE ISLAND 


At higli tide this place is all covered with water. 
It must be higher up in the cliff sides.’’ 

Harry scrambled up again part way, and shortly 
afterwards cried out: “I have found somethin 
here; come up at once.” 

He was distant not more than twenty feet above 



them, but so rugged were the cliffs that the open- 
ing was entirely hidden from below. 

“This is an example of the corrosive effects of 
the sea, and of the elements in the water and in 
the rock. As these rocks are limestone forma- 
tions, we may be able to see some beautiful decora- 
tions within, if the cave is of any extent.” 


aq 


HUNTING VEGETABLES 


75 


^Tt is awful dark in there. I wish we hadn’t 
forgotten the candles,” he said, as he glanced at 
the Professor, who seemed to be quite absorbed in 
examining the rocks. 

^‘Don’t you think we had better go inf’ 

should like to do so, but we haven’t any 
candles.” 

thought you came here for the purpose of ex- 
amining the cave!” 

‘‘So we did.” 

“And came without making any preparations for 
it !” As he said this he drew out one of the small 
candles which they had been making and using 
for their evening work and recreation. 

George and Harry were both very much ashamed 
of their carelessness. The Professor, on the other 
hand, did not make another remark on the sub- 
ject. No doubt the silent rebuke was a lesson they 
would retain much better than if it should be more 
forcibly presented. 

The boys, be it said to their credit, never re- 
sented any word or action on the part of the Pro- 
fessor. They had only love and veneration for 
him; and the Professor, by his constant attitude 
toward them, showed that even these careless ac- 
tions or any other examples of thoughtlessness on 
the part of the boys, were part of the training that 
would teach lessons of value. 

Below the mouth of the cave were little streams 
of water which looked like springs, and the Pro- 
fessor was of the opinion that the floor or interior 
of the cave must be lower than the entrance. 

“Why do you think so!” was the inquiry. 


76 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


“The springs below seem to indicate that when 
the high tide fills the cave, the bottom of the cave 
leaks enough to let out the water. The height of 
the mouth from the normal level of the water is 
much above the usual high tide level of the water, 
and it is only when there is an abnormally high 
tide, as on the day that George saw it, when the 
cave could be filled with water.” 

“Who will go in first?” said George. “I have 
no objection to taking the lead ; so here goes.” 

George moved forward cautiously, holding the 
candle, and Harry followed with another. The 
opening was fully ten feet high, and at least that 
much in width, but irregularly formed. They went 
in straight for twenty feet or more, when George 
announced that he had reached a wall. The Pro- 
fessor, who was in the rear, called out : “Look to 
the right, there is a turn here.” 

Such was the case, but the broken up character 
of the sides and floor prevented them from readily 
grasping the formation. After making a jog the 
cave again turned into the cliff, practically on a 
line with the opening section or mouth of the cave. 
It was dark at first, but now, for some peculiar 
reason, it grew lighter as they advanced, and final- 
ly George stopped. 

“What makes that peculiar light?” 

“It is not a light ; it is merely white walls and 
ceilings.” 

“What causes it?” 

“Carbonate of lime, or chalk, which is caused by 
lime water coming from above and trickling down 
through to openings or crevices, and leaving the 


HUNTING VEGETABLES 


77 


deposits there. It is not an nncommon thing in 
caves, and I foreshadowed it in the cave when I 
stated that the rocks were of limestone formation. 
You will remember we made lime from this kind 
of rock.’’ 

A loud splash and a groan-like noise put further 
conversation at an end. What was that ?” asked 
George, as he retreated. In doing so he tripped, 
and, in falling, the light he carried was extin- 
guished as it flew from his hand. 

Clearly there was water ahead. ^‘Let us go for- 
ward, a little closer,” said the Professor. ‘Wou 
might get your guns ready, in case of necessity.” 

Within thirty feet of them was the edge of 
water, and the light threw a beam beyond for a 
hundred feet or more. 

“It seems as though we have reached the end of 
our explorations here.” As they looked, the water 
was agitated, and it was plain that some aquatic 
animal was within the cave. 

To return was the only thing to do, and as they 
went back the sides of the cavern were examined, 
and the Professor took a number of samples, as he 
said: “Don’t lose the candle until we get where 
we can see daylight. Although we are not more 
than two hundred feet from the mouth of the cave, 
the remarkable bend or jog near the mouth of the 
cave makes it as dark as though we were in a 
thousand feet.” 

“What sort of animal do you suppose that 
wasf’ 

“Possibly a sea lion, or a seal.” 

After the open air was reached the Professor 


78 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


said : ‘T do not see Low this cave would account 
for the phenomena that George saw the other day.’^ 

^^Why not?’^ 

^‘The cave is too deep. It is not a true air 
pocket, and ” 

‘‘What is this ? Here is another one, still larger, 
and lower down. Here, hold the candle.” Harry 
was down in an instant. 

“Probably this is what George saw.” 

True enough; it was an air pocket which ex- 
tended in about fifty feet, and had no passageway 
beyond. 


CHAPTER VII 

INVESTIGATING THE PKOSPECTOK^S HOLE 

The knowledge that some marine animal inhab- 
ited the cave was now a constant topic, particularly 
with George, who was determined, sooner or later, 
to find ont something more about it. With this 
end inWiew he made secret preparations, particu- 
larly in constructing a lamp which would not be 
liable to overturn or be put out by wind or in fall- 
ing. 

Thus far the only light available was obtained 
from candles made from the fat of the animals, 
and it was not the kind of illuminating material 
they had been used to. When people knew nothing 
better than tallow candles, that light was satisfac- 
tory, but when petroleum was once used tallow 
candles were entirely unsuitable and too primitive. 

The statement by the Professor that the hole 
into which George fell, some months before, con- 
tained asphaltum, hinted at a possible source of 
petroleum, and through the persistent efforts of 
George, the Professor agreed to accompany him to 
the place to make an investigation. 

The yaks were yoked, and a good luncheon put 
up, prepared for a day^s jaunt, the trip being 
planned for the day of the week which had been set 
apart for exploration purposes. Within an hour 
the team was tethered at the spot where Harry and 
79 


80 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


George put up the team when they started out on 
their former tour of investigation. 

^‘Now, George, we shall have to depend on you 
to lead the way.” 

^‘When I left Harry we were on the little hill 
beyond that clump of bushes.” 

must have been rhuch farther away,” was 
Harry’s opinion. 

‘^Let us go over at any rate, and we can prob- 
ably get our bearings from there.” 

The spot pointed out was just as much a mys- 
tery after reaching it as before. It was suggested 
that, as neither knew how to determine the direc- 
tion of the ‘‘hole” from that point, time might be 
saved by each taking a different direction, with 
the understanding that if anything was discovered 
a shot should be fired as a signal. 

After carefully noting the two large trees where 
the team was located, they separated, Harry going 
to the north, George to the northwest and the Pro- 
fessor directly west. The ridge on which they 
were ran north and south, and to the west was a 
decline. It was considerably south of the trail 
taken on their former trips, so it was really 
undiscovered territory. 

The Professor passed down the long incline, 
carefully noting every set of bush, such as George 
declared he had passed through at the time he 
was deposited in the “hole.” When the bottom of 
the ravine was reached he turned to the right,- 
working his way diagonally up the hill. 

George, on the other hand, made for some bush 
ahead of him, which looked familiar, but in this 


PEOSPECTOR’S HOLE 


81 


he was disappointed, and going to the left, consid- 
erably farther down the hill, was rewarded by the 
rediscovery of the ‘‘hole.” Without waiting he 
fired a shot, and to his surprise found the Profes- 
sor within a hundred feet. 

“I have found it. See, that is the place I went 
through.” 

Harry was not far away, and he rushed up out 
of breath. The bushes were swept aside and 
George went in, followed by the Professor and 
Harry. He had not gone five feet when he 
stopped. 



“This isnT the place. There is a big rock here ; 
not a hole.” 

This was indeed the case. 

George’s countenance was a study. The Profes- 
sor and Harry had a good laugh at the discom- 
fiture of George. 

“So you think you fell into a hole 1 It must have 
been a pretty solid hole.” The rock was about ten 
.feet across, and flat on top, and the bush grew all 
around it, thus entirely screening it from obser- 
vation. 

“Well, we must try again.” 


82 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


“I would like to know why vegetation accumu- 
lates around a stone, or around a hole, and gets 
so much larger than at other places 

“It is accounted for by the little germs we talked 
about the other day. Did you ever notice the 
musty smell that comes up from an overturned 
stone 

“Yes, and I have often wondered what it was.” 

“There is always more or less moisture under 
the stone, so that the germs are readily bred, and 
as they form carbonic and nitrogenous gases, 
which the plant must have, you can readily see why 
vegetation thrives around the stones.” 

“But where there is a hole it is drier, and the 
same thing occurs there?” 

“That is a good observation. Two things are 
required to cultivate the germs, aside from the 
food. One is moisture and the other is heat. The 
earth is full of bacteria from which plants get 
their food ; some places the bacteria go down only 
one or two feet ; at other places, where it is warm, 
as in the tropics, they have been found five or 
six feet below the surface. When a hole is made, 
and the sun strikes it, the bottom of the hole gets 
warm, and thus facilitates the growth of the germs 
around the hole, so that the plants in the immediate 
vicinity get an extra supply of nitrogen.” 

“But where do they get the moisture ?” 

“That is another one of nature’s great surprises, 
and shows how every contingency seems to be 
provided for. I suppose you have both cultivated 
corn — that is, have gone between the rows with a 
cultivator, and stirred up the earth. You did this. 


PEOSPECTOR^S HOLE 


83 


as you were told, to keep down the weeds. That 
was one reason, but it is not the principal one. A 
dry crust forms over the surface of the ground, 
owing to the heat of the sun. When the cultivator 
breaks up the crust the heat from the sun draws 
up the moisture from below, and you are therefore 
watering your corn, and what is more, you are 
breeding bacteria so as to supply food for the 
plants.” 

“After learning this I am glad we discovered the 
stone.” 

A more persistent search was now made, and 
George’s “hole” was really found to exist. It was 
just as he described it. Everywhere along the hill- 
side were rocks projecting out from the surface, 
but here was a depression, or hole, fully fifteen 
feet square, with rocky sides, the wall on the upper 
side of the hill being fully fifteen feet high, whereas 
the lower margin of the hole had a wall not over 
four feet high, so that it will be seen George had 
no difficulty in getting out after he had recovered 
from his fall. 

The Professor was in the hole in an instant. 
The growth about the depression was so dense that 
it made the hole dark, but there was an unmistak- 
able odor of asphaltum. Some of the overhanging 
branches were trimmed off, and every portion of 
the walls examined. 

“What do you think made this 1 Was it washed 
out?” 

“Some one dug this hole,” was the Professor’s 
response. 

“What makes you think it was dug out ?” 


84 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


^‘There is plenty of evidence to show that. Look 
at the marks of tools on the walls all about you.” 

‘^Do you suppose it was made to get oil!” 

“No; but to get metals.” 

“What kinds, do you think!” 

“Gold or silver ; most likely silver.” 

“Do you think we have silver here !” 

“LTnquestionably ; we have some samples of it 
at the Cataract now.” 

“When did you get it !” 

“At the time we found the lead ore. Silver is 
usually a partner of lead, and from my examina- 
tion of the samples we have it is rich in silver. 
It is likely that the indications of lead and silver 
all along this ridge attracted the attention of a 
mining engineer, and this was a test hole in pros- 
pecting for the ore.” 

“But if this hole was dug out, as you say, where 
did they put the dirt and rock which came out 
of it!” 

“Examine below and you will see.” 

Below the hole the side was rather steep, but 
when the surface of the hill was examined there 
was no longer any doubt of the human agency 
which made it. 

It was with a certain sense of joy that the boys 
heard this news. The island had been explored 
by white people ; it might again be visited by some 
wanderers on the sea. This was a comforting as- 
surance. It had the effect of giving new courage, 
as no other event had, since they reached the rocky 
shore during that tempestuous night, nearly eight 
months before. 


PEOSPECTOR’S HOLE 85 

“Don’t you think we can get kerosene here was 
George’s inquiry. 

“I do not think it is likely. What we see here 
is a mere trace of surface oozing, found in many 
places, and it generally indicates petroleum at 
some depth, but whether in sufficient quantities 
to pay cannot be determined without boring.” 

George’s hope of a better light faded. 

Under the direction of the Professor the balance 
of the day was spent in gathering samples of min- 
erals, and George, in one of his searches, brought 
a sample of very peculiar greenish ore, interlaid 
with patches of brown substance. The Professor 
was much delighted with this. 

“You have found a fine sample of zinc, and if 
you direct us to the place we must take a quantity 
of it. I have been specially looking out for sam- 
ples of this.” 

The ore was readily found, and a sufficient 
amount uncovered to complete their load, and late 
that evening they reached home very tired, but 
happy. 

“Let us do some preliminary work with the fur- 
naces to-day,” was the Professor’s first observa- 
tion. “The ore we found yesterday is too good a 
thing to lie idle. You will remember I told you 
some time ago that we want some of these metals 
to be working for us f ’ 

“Just like the germs do?” 

“Not just in that way, but nevertheless they must 
serve us.” 

“If people get to know so much and have the 


86 


EXPLOEING- THE ISLAND 


different things do all the work there will not be 
much left for us to do I” 

^‘Do you think sof^ 

^Tf one thing after the other is discovered, and 
it is found that one or two elements can be made 
to do our work, the time may come when every- 
body will know so much that man will do nothing 
but ” 

‘^But direct f’ 

“Yes.” 

“Isn’t that something ? Working with the hands 
or thinking are not the only things which man can 
do, in order to go forward and to advance.” 

“What I mean is this : We are told that idleness 
is wrong, and that people are happier when they 
are busy at some useful occupation.” 

“If that is a good definition of happiness, then 
we should make everything we use as crude and 
primitive as the people used to make them a thou- 
sand years ago. There would be no object in 
learning, because learning makes people discon- 
tented.” 

“I heard a story once about some wise man who 
offered his fortune to the man who could prove he 
was contented. The first applicant wanted the 
fortune, because he said he was contented. The 
wise man answered by saying, that if he was con- 
tented he would not want the fortune.” 

“Quite true; the contented man does not exist, 
because it is not human nature to be so. That is 
one of the qualities which distinguishes man from 
the rest of the animal creation.” 

“But is it true that the invention of labor-saving 


PEOSPECTOE^S HOLE 87 

tools has caused a lot of misery to working 
peopled’ 

‘‘Do you know of any tools that are not labor- 
saving? The mason’s trowel is a labor-saving 
tool, invented to prevent him from using his hands 
to put on the mortar ; the bolo or the knife is just 
as much a labor-saving tool as the planing 
machine; the sickle saves labor and so does the 
reaper. The difficulty is that some people do not 
stop to think that the saving of labor applies just 
as forcibly to a simple tool as to a complicated 
one.” 

“What shall we try in our furnace to start 
with ?” 

“The ore you found yesterday. The first thing 
to do is to crush it up as fine as possible. When 
that is done we can put it in the round furnace.” 

“You mean in the firebrick furnace?” 

“Yes ; although we do not need such a high heat. 
Almost any furnace would do, as the roasting of 
the ore does not require a high heat.” 

“What is the best way to roast it?” 

“It will be necessary to put it on one of the 
iron plates, and great care must be taken to keep 
it a uniform heat, but not too intense.” 

The process of roasting is a very particular one 
and requires quite a time to get the best results. 
When this was done the next step was to take the 
roasted ore, and mix it with half its weight of 
powdered coke. They had a good quantity of the 
coke on hand, which was also crushed. 

“You remember, George, we had a crucible made 
with a hole at the bottom. Get that and also some 


88 


EXPLOEING- THE ISLAND 


fire clay dust, and moisten the dust so we can make 
a stiff mortar from it. We must make a tubular 
connection with the hole in the bottom of the 
crucible.” 

When this was done the crucible was put into the 
furnace, after it had been charged with the coke 
dust and crushed zinc ore. 

‘‘Why is it necessary first to crush the ore and 
roast it, and then afterwards put it in the crucible 
v/ith the crushed coke ?” 

“Zinc is not found in a native state. This ore is 
in the form of an oxide, as it is called. In roast- 
ing, certain of the impurities are driven otf in 
gases, and mixing it with charcoal or coke and 
then applying heat to the confined mass, causes 
the zinc to melt and finally go ofif into a gas, as 
we shall presently see.” 

After the heat had been applied for some time 
a white smoke began to appear at the mouth of the 
clay tube, and a little later a blue vapor appeared. 

“Now bring that pan here, so we can catch it.” 

Soon the dripping commenced, and as it ran out 
and came into contact with the air, it turned into 
a solid, greyish color. 

“This is what is called spelter, or the pig of 
zinc, and this is what is sold to refiners, who take 
out all the dross or impurities so it can be rolled 
or used for galvanizing iron, or for other pur- 
poses.” 

“I do not see how we can use this metal, now 
that we have it.” 

“You said the other night that you wished we 
had a better light.” 


PEOSPECTOE^S HOLE 


89 


^^That was the reason I was so anxious to see 
whether we couldn’t get some kerosene at the 
‘hole.’ ” 

“As we didn’t succeed in finding petroleum we 
shall have to depend on our zinc, I suppose.” 

“What, light out of zinc !” 

“No ; but by the zinc route.” 

That was another new development to the boys. 

“Harry made a sage remark some months ago. 
It was to the effect that in order to start to make 
anything we had to make something that made 
something to make something with. In order to 
make electricity by means of a battery, we had to 
go through all this process of turning out the zinc, 
which we have just completed; then, if you have 
not forgotten it, we had quite a time in converting 
our copper ore into a copper which we could use. 
We were compelled to make charcoal, and then 
coke, with the aid of the charcoal ; and now that we 
have coke, we must again grind it up and make a 
mortar, so we can form it into little plates or 
slabs. Prom the copper we got a liquid, which I 
asked you to save, and that is vitriol, or sulphate 
of copper. You see, all these things are necessary 
before we could possibly attempt to set up a pri- 
mary battery, and start the first lighting plant.” 

Not an hour was lost at the Cataract home and 
factory. All took the keenest delight in forward- 
ing any new enterprise and in looking out for new 
things to do which would contribute to their pleas- 
ure and comfort. The boys now learned what they 
had never dreamed of before ; that life is a most 
complex problem; that to secure pleasures toil is 


90 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


necessary, and that the greatest happiness comes 
from knowing you have succeeded. Pursuit, not 
possession, is man’s greatest joy. To the brute 
the reverse is true. 

“Where is the Professor? I have been bitten 
by a cat.” 

“A cat, Harry? Where did you find the cat?” 

“Across the river, where I was cutting the oak 
log.” 

The Professor was soon at hand. “What is 
this? A cat, you say?” 

“It looked just like a big cat, about two feet 
long?” 

“Did it have a pointed nose ?” 

“Then it must have been a Zibet, a specie not un- 
like the American civet. It is a cat, but not what 
is known as the Vildcat,’ and can be tamed.” 

“Do you think there is any danger from the 
bite?” 

“Some animals have a species of rabies, like 
those possessed by mad dogs, and cats have been 
known to be infected. I do not think we need to 
have any fear from that source. The wound 
should, however, be cleansed.” 


CHAPTEE VIII 


THE BULL FIGHT 

As the boys grew more and more familiar with 
the island the greater was its store of abundance 
shown to them. Each journey to the interior 
brought some surprise in the way of fruit, flower 
or vegetable. Some were of species well known 
to them ; others unknown, and most of such came 
to them under names of chemicals only. 

‘^There is one plant, at any rate,” said Harry, 
“that makes this seem like home, and that is the 
thistle.” 

“Yes, and it is the one common enemy of man 
in every part of the world. It is the most success- 
ful business plant, in this particular, that it is 
equipped to resist attacks from other plants and 
from animals as well.” 

“But donkeys and some cattle will eat them.” 

“For the reason that nature has given such ani- 
mals the proper coating and linings of mouth and 
stomach that the thorns do not affect them. There 
is hardly a plant which is as nutritious as the this- 
tle. In England, the thistle leaves, in early days, 
were used as salads.” 

Harry was an ardent admirer of flowers, and 
was constantly bringing in some specimen for ex- 
amination. “Here is a very pretty flower which 
is differently colored from any that I have seen 
before. It looks like the wood sorrel.” 

91 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


^ ^ 92 


‘Tt is tlie sorrel, but if you should be in Ireland, 
the people there would call it the shamrock. St. 
Patrick taught the people that it typifies the trinity 
with its three leaves. The plant has some very 
peculiar qualities. It actually goes to sleep at 
night. It folds up its leaves. It is so sensitive 
to light that it has at least four different methods 



- 7 ^ / 3 / T^ruitandI7omT of VmlZiL. 


by which it can adjust itself with the greatest 
nicety to the amount of light which it receives.” 

‘T think I have found vanilla ; or it is something 
that smells like it, but I did not know that the 
vanilla was a climber.” 

“You have found the wild vanilla, the flowers of 
which have, as you see, disappeared and the bean 
is the product.” 

“I have often wondered why it is that we are 
able to smell or to recognize difiFerent odors.” 

“Smell, like everything else in nature, is pro- 


BULL FIGHT 


93 


dnced by vibrations. So is sound, and light, and 
taste. Each odor has its particular rate of vibra- 
tion. They resemble very much the notes of a 
musical instrument, and, as in music, odors can be 
harmonized, or they may be so mixed together as 
to produce discord. Some perfumes, when used 
on the handkerchief, and are about to fade away, 
have a sickly and disagreeable odor. This is due 
to the admixture of the wrong or discordant tones. 
Thus, heliotrope, vanilla, orange blossom and al- 
mond blend together; citron, lemon, vervain and 
orange peel belong together, but they produce a 
stronger impression on the sense of smell, and are 
of a higher octave ; and so with a still higher class, 
as patchouly, sandal-wood and vitavert.” 

‘^But what is it in the flowers or essences which 
make them smell as they do?” 

^^Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. It is one of the 
most remarkable things in nature that many of 
the odors in plants are formed by the combination 
of only carbon and hydrogen, and the wonderful 
thing about it is, that while turpentine is com- 
posed of 88 parts of carbon and 12 parts of hydro- 
gen, the odors of oils of lemon, orange and juniper 
and rosemary have the exact proportions of those 
elements.” 

It was one of the duties of the colony to pre- 
serve the seeds of ditferent vegetables and grain, 
because the Professor intended to put out for 
their use, as soon as spring came, a garden, which 
would avoid the necessity of constantly putting 
them on the alert to hunt the different foods. 
Sometimes it was necessary to go considerable dis- 


94 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


tances to get the various foods. As long as they 
were on the island it was the part of prudence to 
act like sensible business men, and prepare for 
the future. 

“We haven’t a very big variety of vegetables, 
and I wish we could find some real good sweet 
potatoes and peas; and tomatoes would come in 
handy.” 

“Of course, variety, or the wish for different 
kinds, is largely a matter of desire. It is not a 
necessity.” 

“But does not the desire for different kinds grow 
out of the need of man to get the different suly 
stances which vegetables have?” 

“To a certain extent, yes; but it is a singular 
thing that the world over there seems to be a 
natural instinct to combine two or three vegeta- 
bles, and those vegetables, although they may be 
different in different countries, make chemical 
combinations, when eaten, which are almost identi- 
cally similar. Thus, the Irishman mixes cabbages 
with his potatoes ; the Englishman bacon with his 
beans, and the Italian rich cheese with macaroni.” 

One morning the boys were surprised to find a 
startling increase in their herd of yaks. When 
the Professor arose and went out for his regular 
morning stroll he noticed the unusual number, and 
was not slow in informing the boys. 

“I suppose,” said the Professor, “that they are 
coming to board with us for the season.” 

“Well, I am going to inform them, in a not very 
polite way, that we don’t need company.” 

He was off with a club, Harry following. 


BULL FIGHT 


95 


“Look at that immense fellow. Wouldn’t he 
make good sole leather? What is that on his side ; 
that funny patch?” 

Harry called to the Professor. “Did you see 
the peculiar mark on the side of the big bull ?” 

The Professor was on hand at once. “That is 
certainly a mark of some kind. See if you can get 
near enough to ascertain just what it is.” 

George, who had been so anxious to get rid of 
them, was now just as eager to hold them. The 
bull was a magnificent specimen. Like all this 
species he was a dark red, and had immense horns. 
All yaks, male and female, have horns, and the 
Texas steer has no horns to compare with the yaks 
in size and gracefulness of curve. 

As George advanced there was no action on the 
part of the herd to scatter. Their own stock took 
no notice as he walked among them, and this, in 
all probability, gave the wild herd confidence. The 
bull paid no attention, until George was within 
twenty-five feet, when, with a deep-voiced roar and 
an ominous lowering and shaking of his shaggy 
head, made a beeline for him. The Professor 
called out, and he and Harry both sprang forward 
to aid him, but the bull’s rush was a fierce one, 
and as we have previously stated, they are very 
active creatures. George saw his peril, and now 
realized that he could not possibly reach a place 
of safety, so he sprang behind one of the cows, 
and from that point sought to find a way through 
the herd. The warning voice of the bull, and his 
mad rush, excited the entire herd, which started 
a stampede. 


96 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


In the meantime they had not noticed the pres- 
ence of their own bull, which was a fine animal, and 
was now thoroughly domesticated. The Profes- 
sor was the first to notice the appearance of their 
bull, who, it seems, had been relegated to the 
background when their neighbors came to town for 
their holiday. 

Apollo was Harry’s name for the bull, and when 
George got mixed up in the herd, the strange bull 
made his charge and emitted the challenging bel- 
low, the scene was a truly terrific one. George 
was carried along with the rush, and his only 
danger now was to escape being trampled under 
foot. 

Harry stopped suddenly: ^^Look at Apollo!” 
He was making a charge down into the herd, and 
headed straight for the big bull. 

‘‘I thought it strange that we didn’t hear our 
herd give them a welcome during the night.” 

‘‘Welcome ! what do you mean?” 

“It is singular that Apollo didn’t dispute the 
governorship of the herd when the new arrivals 
came, as that is one of the customs. One of them 
must be master.” 

“Just look at him ! Good old Apollo !” 

At that moment Apollo was within ten feet of 
the wild bull. He did not cease his onslaught. 
The wild animal saw his enemy attacking him from 
the right quarter, but his rush had been so impetu- 
ous that when Apollo struck him he rolled over, 
one of his large horns striking the earth and serv- 
ing as a fulcrumed lever to turn him around in 


BULL FIGHT 97 

Ms path. He was iip in an instant, and now began 
the battle for mastery. 

“Get the guns, Harry; get the guns,” and this 
was a sufficient reminder that neither of them had 
a weapon. 

Harry bounded over to the house, and within 
a minute was back with them. In the meantime, 
where was George I He did not need to be told that 
he must run for his life, and was wise enough to 
seek the security among the cows, but he could 
not foresee a stampede. It was fortunate that the 
big bull was behind the herd when the stampede 
began, and it was lucky that there was plenty of 
room for the animals, or he surely would have been 
trampled to death. Naturally, the noise of the 
rushing animals drowned the roar of the fighting 
bulls, but the stampeded yaks gradually checked 
themselves, and George was the most surprised 
individual imaginable when he found the bull was 
not behind them. 

And now another curious thing happened. They 
had run fully a quarter of a mile, and when the 
running stopped, the yaks leisurely turned around 
and slowly walked back. The movement seemed 
to be a concerted one. George accompanied them. 
He didnT know what else to do. 

When Apollo and the bull locked horns, after 
the latter had again gained his feet, his tremen- 
dous bulk pushed Apollo back, at the first onset ; 
but they noticed a peculiar tactic on the part of 
Apollo. The latter at each forward plunge 
twisted his head, first to the right, and then to the 
left, as though he was boring his way in. This 


98 


EXPLORING THE ISL^lND 


was an astonishing thing to the stranger. This 
was done by Apollo over and over again, and now, 
every time they met, and the twisting motion was 
repeated, his enemy would be thrown back on his 
haunches. 

For a period of twenty minutes the combat con- 
tinued. Back and forth they ranged. Harry, al- 
though intensely excited, wanted to give the bull 
a shot, but the Professor restrained him. He felt 
that the youth of Apollo was enough to over- 
balance the strength of his enemy. 

‘‘No, Harry, when they get through with this bat- 
tle the big fellow will not cause us any more trou- 
ble, and we need him.’^ 

The herd of cows came up and remained stand- 
ing at a respectable distance. They seemed in- 
stinctively to know that the question of kingship 
was being decided. It was entirely immaterial to 
them who won. George did not wait with the herd. 
He saw the combat, and beyond the Professor and 
Harry. 

“Well, you did kick up a fuss, didnT you?” said 
Harry. 

“Apollo’s got him ; he’ll lick him sure. See that 
lunge? My, what a shaking he gave him that 
time!” George was a dancing Dervish by this 
time. Then noticing the guns for the first time, 
seized one of them. “I’ll finish him.” 

“No, no, George,” was Harry’s reply, as he 
grasped the gun. “The Professor is right ; Apollo 
will finish him.” 

There was now no question of the fighting abil- 
ity of Apollo, and of his youth and vigor, and he 


BULL FIGHT 


99 


knew it. His antagonist did not rnsL any more. 
Apollo did that; the bnlPs main business now was 
to keep out of Apollons way. 

He had been whipped, and he knew it. He 
turned and fled. Did he go toward the cows? 
Not at all ; but in the opposite direction. Instinct 
told him that if he had gone toward the cows it 
would have meant another fight. To leave them 
was the bovine manner of saying, ^‘Well, then, 
take them.” 

The big bull did not go far. His head hung 
low, and the heaving flanks showed he was tired. 
But Apollo’s head was high in the air. Dejection 
on one side and absolute mastery on the other were 
as plainly exhibited in the manners of the animals 
as though it had been written out and proclaimed. 

‘What will he do if I go up to him now?” 

“The fight is all out of him.” 

This was true. He exhibited no alarm when 
they approached, and when they walked around to 
get a view of his other side, the mark plainly 
showed the following brand : “M — V.” 

“That is undoubtedly the brand of some person 
who captured the animal when young.” 

“How old do you suppose he is ?” 

“It is difficult to fix his age with any certainty, 
but I do not think he is over ten.” 

“What do you suppose the brand means?” ■ 

“It is some arbitrary term, the initials of a per- 
son, or it may be intended to designate something. 
Branding is a very common way of marking cattle, 
so as to indicate ownership; nearly all savage 
tribes have a habit of branding, or tattooing ; and 


100 


EXPLOEINd THE ISLAND 


sailors also. Various civilized countries in the 
past have branded criminals as a means of identi- 
fying them.” 

They now had an opportunity of taking an in- 
ventory of their stock. The original herd com- 
prised Apollo, six cows and four calves, or half- 
grown cattle. The new acquisition brought the 
count up to twenty-six cows and twenty young ani- 
mals. The vanquished bull was very meek from 



The M^diei'ioubBrand on iM 


that time forward, and the surprising thing was 
that Apollo was thereafter the same quiet, unob- 
trusive animal he had been before. 

But there was work to do in the factory. Harry 
was now engaged in building an iron lathe for 
their further work. A drilling machine was his 
next tool, and as the weeks passed the boys de- 
voted much of their time to making such articles 
of machinery as could be used advantageously to 
turn out the simple products which future needs 
might demand. 


BULL FIGHT 


101 


The leather vats were examined and the skins 
found in excellent condition. These were then 
taken out, and grease and oil worked into them 
until they were pliable. The thick parts of the 
hides had been previously cut out, so that they 
could be used for the soles of contemplated boots 
and shoes, which they soon hoped to turn out. 

Every morning the yaks would leave the en- 
closure and start out on trips to the feeding 
grounds, and sometimes Harry or George would 
follow them and hunt for game. On one occasion, 
while Harry was on the opposite hill, George saw 
the flash of Harry’s gun, and almost immediately 
thereafter heard the report. This was the first 
time the difference between the flash and the noise 
attracted his attention. 

“Will you tell me why I saw Harry’s fire be- 
fore the sound reached me?” 

“Did you say ‘sound’ or ‘noise’ ?” 

George looked at the Professor quizzically. “Is 
there any difference between sound and noise?” 

“Technically, there is a difference, although in 
common practice one word is used for the other 
without discriminating. Sound means a succession 
of vibrations produced in their regular order, like 
music, whereas noise is a disorganized vibra- 
tion. For instance, falling water, like our cataract 
here, is sound, but the report of George’s gun was 
a noise.” 

“I can see the difference. Would a wagon go- 
ing rapidly over a pavement be a noise or a 
sound?” 

“It would be a noise if the pavement should be 


102 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


irregular, but if the pavemeut is regular and the 
vibrations or beats are uniform, it is then called a 
sound. But you wanted to know why you saw 
the shot before you heard it. Simply because 
sound does not travel as fast as light. Sound 
moves 1,040 feet in a second, and light over 186,* 
000 miles a second, which is about 850,000 times 
faster than sound.’’ 

‘‘Do soft and light sounds travel at the same 
speed?” 

“Theoretically, yes; but numerous experiments 
have been made, and many of them go to show 



Measuring Sound Pitch 


that a loud noise really travels faster than a soft 
noise.” 

“What is the cause of that ?” 

“It is attributed to the belief that a loud noise 
causes greater wave motions, although the sound 
waves may be the same lengths in both cases. Or, 
it might be said that loud noises have greater 
strength.” 

“When we were going to New York in the cars, 
a train was coming toward us, and the engineer 
on that train blew his whistle when he was off 
quite a distance, and kept it up until long after 
he had passed us. I noticed that when the whistle 



George saw his peril and now realized that he could not 
possibly reach a place of safety"* 


[See p. 95) 



A 




► • •' 


1£^ 


w ^ 

^>V 



IB-V V ' ' 

Fe/, Lf' rf- . ^ w jT*! •^ • 




•i / 


* v-^ I • ( 

-r '>,' ' ■• lU 

, w f .*!& ••:% \ ^^^1 






.>{jk. . *,c ■ k ■ 

s^%f'r -T. - ■ *i 

.X|^ '“* 


-^•v '«• 


y Vr ■• - 

V' ^ • ' ‘ r 




rj? *» 


• $ 









. I. 


- 


» ff 


. te. .. r*4.,.‘ 

» 0 ' ^ c\ - -• 1 -WT ■ • • ' ksQlBl - ^ 

»Yr-v i - -■ : ■ . ■ i.'t 

5^5^, :• 





lAl 


•*> ' 

f I 


..I 


. '/• J 

• J* f" ^ 


'•':A I 


“I 

X 




» > 



w ■ 

^ < I.'* 


•is?^ 





BULL FIGHT 


103 


started the sound had a very low pitch, which kept 
increasing to a higher and higher pitch until the 
train passed ; what was the cause of that f ^ 

‘‘As the sound waves are uniform movements, 
and are at regular intervals, the vibratory action 
of the whistle, in case the trains were at rest, 
would all be the same distance apart; but as the 
two trains were coming together two things hap- 
pened. At each moment your ear came nearer the 
whistle, and the distance through which the sound 
had to travel decreased. This made increasingly 
shorter waves, and not long, regular waves, as 
when at rest. Short waves make a high pitch, and 
long waves low pitch. After you passed the train 
the waves began to get longer, but they increased 
m length more rapidly than when you were ap- 
proaching each other, so that if the whistle kept 
on blowing the waves would finally get to be so 
long and so far below their original pitch that the 
sound would cease. 

“A little sketch will show this. (Figure 23.) 
The line A is the pitch of the whistle ; B its pitch 
when you first heard it ; C shows the point where 
you passed the whistle, and D shows how low the 
pitch was when it died away.” 


CHAPTER IX 


EXCITING EXPERIENCES WITH THE BOATS 

During the nine months’ life on the island all 
had the best of health. The Professor grew 
strong, and he declared that his constitution was 
more robust than it had been for years. They 
lived in the open much of the time ; their fare was 
plain and mostly devoid of sweets; the store of 
honey which had been several times replenished, 
was the stock article in the absence of sugar. 

It was, therefore, a matter of surprise that 
Harry should complain of having a tired and un- 
comfortable feeling, and would frequently lie down 
during the day while in the workshop. The Pro- 
fessor was always at his side during these periods, 
and while he had no instruments to enable him to 
determine whether there was a high fever present, 
the flushed face of his patient showed unmistakable 
symptoms. 

^^Do you think he has a very severe fever f’ was 
George’s inquiry, as the Professor left Harry. 

^Tt seems so, and in order to determine whether 
there is any change we must at once set to work 
making a thermometer.” 

‘AVe have neither mercury nor glass, and even 
if we had, how can w^e make a tube for it f ” 

“That being the case, we must make a substitute 
for both.” 


104 


EXCITING EXPERIENCES 105 

‘‘But we must have something which will ex- 
pand.’^ 

“We can use iron for that. Get a piece of small 
steel bar, say two inches long, and bend it in the 
form of a C. In the meantime I will make a base 
to hold the thermometer.’^ 

“For your guidance I make a drawing (Figure 
24), in which A is the base, about five inches long, 
three inches at its widest end, and an inch wide 
at the narrow end. This should be made of a thin 



piece of hard wood. Bore a small hole in each end 
of the C-shaped piece. The next thing is to make 
a pointer (B) nearly as long as the base, pointed 
at one end, and provided with two holes at the 
other. The pointer is attached to the base by a pin 
(D). One end of the C-shaped piece of metal is 
then hinged to the other hole (E), and the other 
end of the C-shaped piece is hinged, as at F, to the 
base. You will now see that if the ends of the 
C-shaped piece spread apart the least bit the long 
end of the pointer will swing over to the other side 
of the base.” 


106 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


‘^Do you intend to make the thermometer show 
the exact degrees of heat we really havef’ 

‘^Yes ; as nearly as possible.” 

‘‘Why canT we make it exact?” 

“For the reason that to make what is called 
the Fahrenheit scale we should have freezing 
weather. The scale adopted by Fahrenheit was 
an arbitrary one. He determined it in this way: 
The temperature of his body was taken as one 
point in the scale. For zero he took the lowest 
temperature observed by him in the year 1709. As 
the temperature of his body was 86 he made a 
scale with 86 degrees on it, and then when he ob - 
served ice melting in water he put his thermometer 
in and found it registered at 32 degrees. It was 
not a very scientific way of doing it, but it an- 
swered the purpose, as, of course, temperature is 
merely a relative thing.” 

“But isn’t there another scale to measure heat 
by?” 

“The Centigrade method is on a more scientific 
basis. It is determined by taking the freezing and 
the boiling points of water, and dividing the scale 
into 100 degrees between those points.” 

It required the work of several hours to make 
the device as here shown, so that the tension of 
the C-shaped piece would hold the point to one 
side. The temperature of the atmosphere was 
about 65, as nearly as the Professor could judge, 
but when the C-shaped piece was held in the palm 
of the hand, the pointer moved to the lower edge 
of the base piece, and a mark of 80 was put there 
as the starting point. As they had no immediate 


EXCITING EXPEEIENCES 


107 


use for a scale beyond 110 degrees, the end of the 
base was marked otf, as you see in regular divi- 
sions. 

The C-shaped piece was put under the tongue or 
in the armpit, so that the temperature of Harry 
could be determined, and it registered 102 degrees. 
It might be that Harry’s temperature was really 
much higher, as the thermometer, for the reasons 
stated, was not accurate. 

‘T wish you would test the thermometer, George, 
so we can pretty well determine, within a range 
of two or three degrees, how nearly right we are.” 

George’s temperature was found to register 98, 
whereas the Professor’s was only 90. He ex- 
plained that the temperature of youth is normally 
greater than old age, but it was remarkably close 
to the average normal temperature of two healthy 
persons. 

‘The advantage of the instrument now is to 
enable us to ascertain whether Harry’s tempera- 
ture will increase or decrease.” 

“Is there no other way in which we can find out 
about a fever f’ 

“When the fever comes on the pulse is usually 
quickened, as well as the breathing ; the bowels are 
apt to be constipated ; and thirst, loss of appetite, 
headache, and vague pains are felt. Wlien the 
temperature goes beyond 105 it is very dangerous, 
and it is for this reason that physicians want to 
know the temperature.” 

“I am anxious to know why that C-shaped piece 
should try to straighten itself out when heat is ap- 
plied to it?” 


108 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


“IVlien yon bent tbe metal piece of which it is 
made yon crowded the metal on the inside of the 
piece together, and also stretched the metal on the 
ontside of the bend. As the application of heat 
expands the metal, the contracted particles of the 
metal on the inside of the piece pnshed against 
each other with greater force than those on the 
ontside, and the bar tried to straighten itself ont 
again.” 

have noticed that if a hose is coiled np and 
water is forced throngh nnder pressnre it will 
straighten ont the hose. Is that also the case with 
the hose?” 

‘^To a certain extent only. Another principle 
comes into play in that case. Water nnder pres- 
snre acts as a solid, and has a tendency to move 
along the shortest rente or in the most direct way. 
If, therefore, there is a crook in the pipe the water 
tries to straighten it ont. Steam ganges are made 
of flattened spirally coiled tnbes. One end of the 
tnbe is open and the other has an inlet for the 
steam. The dial finger has a connection with the 
moving end, and by that means pressnre is indi- 
cated.” 

The next morning Harry’s temperatnre was 
fnlly one degree higher than the previons day, and 
the Professor advised that it wonld be necessary 
to administer some fever medicine. 

‘^Last week yon fonnd several samples of the 
gentian flower. It is a first-class fever medicine 
and tonic. Do yon think yon conld distingnish it 
by its large bine-colored, fringed flowers?” 

‘T know what yon mean ; it has one central stalk. 


EXCITING EXPERIENCES 


109 


with big leaves at the bottom which gradually 
grow smaller, and in which the stem seems to go 
up through the flowers/^ 

“That describes it exactly. Get some of the 
roots, and peel them, then scrape a quantity, so we 
can give some to Harry.” 

This is a simple remedy, in the absence of regu- 
lar fever medicines which were not available to 
them. 

To their great relief the fever abated before 
morning, and by persistently taking the gentian 
tonic Harry was soon well again. 

This little experience was sufficient notice that 
in health at least some preparation should be made 
for illness, which is sure to come to all at most 
unexpected times. It had also a stimulating ef- 
fect in more pointedly directing the attention of 
the boys to the wonders of the vegetable world. 

It was now the latter part of June, and the 
weather was not at all cold. Plenty of rain had 
fallen, and the Cataract stream had risen so high 
that their water wheel had been out of commission 
for several weeks, and Harry’s illness or indisposi- 
tion had somewhat retarded the work in the fac- 
tory. 

“Wouldn’t it be a good idea to look up that ani- 
mal over in the cave?” was George’s first sugges- 
tion, one morning, shortly after Harry’s recovery. 
“We might put in a little time there, and then go 
down around the bay on a little tour.” 

This was agreeable to all, and then George re- 
membered the want of the candles. Zinc had been 
turned out, as previously told, but no steps had 


110 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


been taken toward making a battery which would 
be the starting point for an electric lighting sys- 
tem, as Harry and George both hoped for. 

‘Tt seems to me,” said Harry, “that we ought 
to explore the coast line to the southeast of us, 
as we have never been in that direction, and then 
work our way around to the cliff cave.” 

Without further words the yaks were yoked up, 
and taking a hearty luncheon they were off for the 
east coast, where the bay indented the land. The 
coast was reached within two hours, a great deal 
of the time en route being spent in gathering sam- 
ples of plants, flowers, and fruit, of which some 
species of trees were filled. 

To the right of the place where they struck the 
sea was a cape which ran out into the sea for fully 
a quarter of a mile, and to the south of this was 
the mouth of the South River. As they had defi- 
nitely planned to go north along the coast line 
to the cliff rocks, the explorations to the south 
must be reserved for some future day. 

The sea front showed delightful stretches of 
beach, but at intervals small trees and bushes grew 
close to the ocean on the elevated spurs which 
broke up the otherwise smooth beach line. 

The clam, as a source of food supply, had prac- 
tically been neglected, because it was quite a dis- 
tance from the Cataract home to the beach, and 
principally for the reason that other foods were 
so plentiful. Harry wanted some clams, and with 
one of their bags the beach was scoured for fully 
a mile, until he gathered a staggering load. 

As he reached one of the little knolls which 


EXCITING EXPEEIENCES 


111 


broke off abruptly close to tlie sea, Harry dropped 
the bag and ran to the brush. The Professor 
looked on in wonder. When Harry disappeared 
in the bush George and the Professor both hurried 
forward. Harry reappeared in an instant. 

“What do you think I have found f’ 

“Another cave?” queried George, without stop- 
ping. 

“No ; our boat.” 

There, perched less than five feet above the level 
of the ocean, was the boat which they had left 
at the foot of the falls in the South Eiver, fully 
three months before. One of the puzzling mys- 
teries was solved. 

It was some labor to dislodge the boat from its 
position between the cleft branches of shrubbery 
which also held other debris, and furthermore the 
boat was full of all sorts of rubbish. This was 
laboriously removed. 

“You will remember I stated at the time of the 
disappearance the most likely explanation would 
be that high water coming on suddenly would 
wrench the boat from its fastenings, and ” 

The Professor got no further; he suddenly 
stopped and glanced to the forward end of the 
boat. “Who tied on that rope? It really does 
look as though some one has used the boat. That 
is not one of the oars we made.” 

“But where are the lockers we had on the boat, 
in which we put our provisions ?” 

“They have been removed by some one. This 
is a rope entirely unlike any we have had, and it is 
a native, or rather, hand-made article.” 


112 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


“Well, we have struck a greater mystery now 
than when we lost the boat.” 

This discovery brought up several other ques- 
tions which, as it now appeared, might he linked 
together. The removal of the flag and flagstaff; 
the “hole” in the hill; the fire in the forest; the 
branded hull, all indicated that people had, at 
various times, visited the island. But the finding 
of their boat, with the positive evidence furnished 
by the oar and the rope, was conclusive, and what 
made it the more interesting was the fact that 
the island must have had such a visit within two, 
or at the most, not over three months ago. 

Each was too busy to give much time for dis- 
cussing the probabilities. They had entirely for- 
gotten the cave. It was, by common consent, 
agreed that the boat must be taken home, and 
it was finally decided that the boys should pilot 
it around the point, past the cliffs, and in that 
way reach the mouth of the Cataract River, where 
it would always be convenient for cruising pur- 
poses. 

It was fortunate that the sea was calm when the 
boys pushed the boat from the shore. It showed 
signs of leaking here and there, but the Pro- 
fessor assured them that the water would close up 
the joints before long. The Professor, himself, 
drove the team to the Cataract, and after unyok- 
ing them, followed the course of the river down 
to its mouth, to await the coming of the boys. 
He waited there until sundown, but the boys did 
not appear. 

Let us now follow the boys. Lashed in the boat 


EXCITING EXPEEIENCES 


113 


were two oars, as carefully secured as though 
tied only the day before. At the bow was the 
rope which the Professor discovered, after he had 
noticed the one tied around the oars. It will be 
remembered that the boat had been fitted with a 
mast and a sail. Those had been removed, as well 
as the crosspiece and the brace which held them 
in place. It was, therefore, necessary to row the 
boat around the point. The distance, as calculated 
by the Professor, was two miles or more to the 
cliffs, and fully a mile from the extreme point of 
the cliff to the mouth of the river. 

Shortly after they started on the journey a light 
wind sprang up, which, however, did not seriously 
interfere with their progress, but it was sufficient 
to induce them to take a course outside of the 
point, instead of attempting to thread their way 
inshore between the rocks. 

When abreast of the extreme point George’s at- 
tention was directed toward an object on the cliff. 

“What is that up on the rocks?” 

Harry stopped rowing, and looked in the direc- 
tion of George’s extended arm. “It looks like a 
boat. Let us go in.” 

The boat was pointed to the shore, and drawn 
up, and in their eagerness, each tried to gain the 
elevation first. A miscalculation was made, in the 
attempt to reach the object, which was not visible 
from their location, and they were compelled to 
thread their way down again and go around the 
broken side of the cliff walls. 

As they were about to ascend Harry called out : 
“Look at the boat, George! Eun quick, it is 


114 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


adrift !” The wind had quickened, and they real- 
ized their carelessness in securing it at the landing 
place, and before George, who was lower down, 
could reach the water’s edge, it was washed around 
the point of the rock, out of his reach. 

Here was a dilemma. The boat lost, and no 
means to reach the mainland without swimming. 
The place where they landed was less than five 
hundred feet from the spot where they were cast 
ashore months before. Innumerable large rocks, 
detached from each other, formed the immense tier 
of sentinels for this part of the coast, and Harry’s 
trip across, when he had the benefit of the life- 
preserver, was an entirely different thing from 
their present condition. 

To add to the perplexity of the situation, George 
was not a good swimmer, and he doubted his abil- 
ity to make the trip across the channels between 
the rocks which separated them from the main- 
land. 

^AVliy not try to find the object we saw while we 
were out at seaf’ 

^Hood idea. But I would like to know how we 
are going to get up!” 

Wasn’t that a silly trick, to be so careless about 
our boat. What will the Professor say ?” 

At last, after repeated trials, they found a way 
which led them up the craggy sides, to the object 
they had seen. 

‘Tt is our life-boat,” was Harry’s excited cry. 
‘^That is, what is left of it.” 

We have previously detailed how, when they 
struck the rock, on that eventful day, months be- 


EXCITING EXPERIENCES 


115 


fore, the boat had apparently been broken in two, 
and they saw only the stern of the boat held within 
a saddle of the rock; and how, at the next great 
wave, even that portion had disappeared. Here 
was the battered and broken-np part that re- 
mained. 

‘‘Do yon think this part would float 

“I suppose it would, but how can we get it 
down?” 

They sat down, not discouraged, but annoyed 
at their own stupidity and carelessness. Night 
was approaching, and sitting down would not rem- 
edy matters. It was low tide, and the waters had 
receded, so that the wrecked boat was now fully 
twenty-five feet from the water. It was held 
within a wedge in the rocks, tilted up, and it was 
too heavy for them to lift. If they could possi- 
bly dislodge it, so as to push it over the edge, 
it would probably be crushed to pieces in tumbling 
down. 

Even such a calamity would be better than re- 
maining there, and it was decided to be the only 
course now available. Every vestige of the locker, 
or seats, or other appendages of the boat were 
swept away. The bare shell of the stern portion 
remained. 

It was now growing dark, and when the wreck 
was finally dislodged and fell down with a crash 
the boys made their way down the sides very cau- 
tiously. It was now but the work of moments to 
get afloat. The boat originally had water-tight 
compartments, but these were now utterly useless 
as a means of sustaining the vessel ; nevertheless, 


116 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


it was a means by which they might reach land, 
as they felt sure it would not sink. Here was an- 
other difficulty. They had neither oar nor other 
means of propelling it to shore. After consider- 
able effort a portion of the side of the boat was 
broken off, and tired and worn with the effort 
and excitement they steered the craft shoreward. 
To do so was not an easy task, as the wind had 
increased, and the waves beat stronger, but this 
had no terror for them after all their previous 
experiences. 

When the shore was reached Harry had one 
positive observation to make: “I am going to 
see that this boat is so fixed that it wonT get 
away.” 

George looked around, and in spite of their 
trials, could not help laughing at Harry. ‘T 
should like to know how you are going to do it. I 
don’t see any ropes around here, and trying to 
pull it up this steep beach wall will not be an easy 
job.” 

^^Then we have got to take it where we can pull 
it up. I am tired of losing things in this way. 
We’ll have a nice story to tell the Professor.” 

The Professor was by this time thoroughly 
alarmed, as well he might be, for it was past eight 
o’clock that evening when, going down from Obser- 
vation Hill, he heard voices in the distance, and 
recognized the boys. He called to them, and you 
may be sure that their answering voices were joy- 
ful sounds. 

When the boys appeared both began excitedly to 
detail their experiences, getting details of the 


EXCITING EXPERIENCES 


117 


story involved without any sequence just as we 
might expect an exciting, mixed-up recital of this 
kind to be under the circumstances. 

‘‘You lost your boat and found the other one. 
You are having enough experiences to fill a book.” 


CHAPTEE X 

THE BIRTHDAY PARTY ; AND THE SURPRISE 

You may be sure that the interesting topic of 
conversation that night had relation to the events 
of the day. All previous experiences were insig- 
nificant now in comparison. Every phase of the 
question was discussed, and a solution sought. 

The Professor did not attempt to conceal his 
doubts. have a theory that we are or may be 
near some other island, possibly inhabited by white 
or civilized people. It is likely that people from 
those islands may visit this place at intervals, and 
that the boat which we left at the falls was really 
washed down to the sea and found by some of 
them.” 

‘Tf that is the case, why should it be washed 
up on shore, as it was ? They, no doubt, used the 
boat, as the oars and rope showed. But I can’t 
possibly make out the meaning of its being in the 
driftwood.” 

‘‘That boat we made is a hoodoo,” was Harry’s 
conclusion. “Twice lost is enough for me.” 

“Well, I would take a sail in it the next day if 
we could only find it.” 

“I am interested in it,” observed the Professor, 
“not so much for the purposes of its use, as to 
enable us to find out something more about it, 
and how it came to be there. If it had occurred 
to me that we should lose it so soon you may be 
118 



c 


What is this, a party ? ’ said the professor. 

party f said Harry 


* Yes, a birthday 


[See p. 130] 



A 

k ■ 

' f 






f 



t 


t 


• o 



BIRTHDAY PARTY 


119 


sure I should have made a more careful examina- 
tion of it when we had it. But it is too late now.” 

Harry^s solution was the one most acceptable. 
“Let us make another boat, and with that we can 
carry on our investigations more satisfactorily.” 

“Harry is right. A good vessel will be a meas- 
ure of safety, in the event we should be attacked 
by savages, and it will at least enable us to visit 
the shore line of our continent.” 

The sanitary arrangements of their kitchen had 
been for some time very unsatisfactory, and some- 
what cramped, and the Professor thought it would 
be wise, for their comfort and health, to cleanse it 
thoroughly. 

“I am inclined to think that Harry’s sickness 
was caused by the condition of the kitchen. We 
are apt to overlook these things in the multiplicity 
of our work.” 

“What is the best way to clean it, by washing?” 

“That is necessary, of course, but it is impossi- 
ble, even by a liberal use of hot water and soap, to 
remove many of the poisonous germs. Some good 
disinfectant should be used.” 

“Have we anything which could be used for the 
purpose?” 

“There is nothing better than charcoal. Com- 
mon wood charcoal has the capacity of purifying 
and rendering odorless almost all impurities.” 

“In what way does charcoal do this?” 

“When charcoal is crushed up finely its remark- 
able porosity enables it to absorb an enormous 
quantity of gases, and when so absorbed it con- 


120 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


denses them, in which condition they are harm- 
less, or they are retained in the charcoal.” 

^‘But how about the impure liquids?” 

^Tts affinity for sour and stinking liquids is so 
great that two tablespoonfuls of charcoal will 
purify a pint of the foulest sewage; it will also, 
in that quantity, absorb 100 cubic inches of gaseous 
ammonia.” 

‘^Have we anything else that can be used?” 

^^The sulphur that is in the samples of copper 
ore, if burned, will make a sulphurous acid gas, 
and while it must be carefully used, on account of 
its noxious and offensive odor, is a most powerful 
germicide. Or if we take some of the green acid 
of the copper, and make a liquid of it, and then 
pour this over common salt we are making what 
is known as muriatic acid. The vapor of this acid 
will destroy all germs. The objection to this, how- 
ever, is, that it has an odor which is worse than 
the impure or unhealthful gases. In the last sam- 
ples of ore we brought home, you may have noticed 
a very black lot of stuff. That was manganese. 
If we take the muriatic acid, which I have just re- 
ferred to, and pour it over the manganese, we can 
make the most powerful agent of all, namely, 
chlorine.” 

‘^Chlorine is used for bleaching, isn’t it?” 

‘‘That is its great use in the arts; but as a 
purifier it has no equal. It will decompose every 
gaseous compound and evil-smelling gas which 
escapes from decayed animal or vegetable matter.” 

Harry did not let the Professor forget the mat- 
ter of the primary electric battery which he had 


BIRTHDAY PARTY 


121 


been making preparations for, and after they had 
gone over the sanitary features of their kitchen, 
he was anxious to make a start. George was 
equally insistent, because the question of a better 
light was ever uppermost in his mind. 

“Then here goes for the primary battery. We 
haven’t any glass, nor have we found any rubber 
lying around, so we can make cells out of them, so 
what shall we usef’ was the Professor’s first in- 
quiry. 

“Why not use some of these iron pots we made?” 

“I am afraid iron would not last very long, with 
sulphuric acid in them. We should use some non- 
conductor of electricity.” 

“What do you mean by non-conductor ?” 

“That quality in a material which will not allow 
electricity to pass.” 

“Then why can’t we use clay? Will^that con- 
duct electricity?” 

“That is just the thing. Isn’t it wonderful what 
a friend common clay has been to us since we 
have been on this island !” 

“I think we ought to erect a monument to Mon- 
sieur Clay?” 

“It would be a fitting thing to do, because at the 
end we are all bound to go back to him.” 

“I believe you said. Professor, that we should 
have to grind up the coke and then mix it up and 
make plates out of it ?” 

“Yes ; we can use either carbon or copper for the 
negative plates.” 

“What are the other plates ?” 


122 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


‘'The positive. That is what I wanted the zinc 
for, which we made several weeks ago.” 

“Why should we have positive and negative 
plates in a battery?” 

“Everything must have an opposite. If there is 
an up there must be a down; there would be no 
darkness without light; no heat without cold; no 
strength without weakness, and no joy without 
sorrow. Like all these things, the electric current 
flows from one to the other.” 

“But in electricity the current flows only one 
way, does it not ?” 

“In the primary battery that is the case; but 
when electricity is generated and sent over the 
wires, the natural current flows in both directions 
— that is, it goes in one direction as much as in 
the other.” 

“I do not understand what you mean by that.” 

“The current alternates. I^at is meant by that 
is this : For an instant the current flows from the 
positive to the negative, and the next instant it 
flows from the negative to the positive, and so on, 
making the alternate current.” 

“Then the primary battery we are going to make 
will be another kind of current?” 

“We shall make what is called the direct current 
which goes in one direction only — that is, within 
the battery it moves from the positive plate, the 
zinc, to the copper plate, or negative, and outside 
of the battery it moves from the negative to the 
positive plate.” 

“Why does it do so?” 

“In order that you may understand, I shall make 


BIRTHDAY PARTY 


123 


a drawing so Harry will not have so much trouble 
in arranging the parts. So if you will examine 
the sketch (Figure 25), you will see that the clay 
cell, which we are to make, has in it the two elec- 
trodes, A and B. That is what they are called 
when they are spoken of together ; but the positive 





Primary Battery 


one (A), the zinc, is called the anode, and the 
negative (B), or copper, is called the cathode. 
You should keep these terms in mind. 

^^The liquid in the cell, marked C, is used as the 
electrolyte, and for that we shall take some of the 
sulphate of copper which the copper ore furnishes. 
A good strong salt solution would also answer the 


124 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


purpose. The two electrodes are separated, and a 
wire connects the two outside of the cell. Now you 
will notice that within the cell the current flows, as 
shown by the dart E, from the positive to the nega- 
tive plate, but outside of the battery the current 
flows through the wires E from the negative to the 
positive plate.” 

can understand it now. The current from the 
battery will always go from the negative to the 
positive pole.” 

^^You are mistaken. I am glad you referred to 
that. It shows the importance of using correct 
terms. You must not confound the terms ^nega- 
tive plate’ with ^negative pole.’ All currents leave 
the battery or dynamo from the negative plate, but 
that negative plate is called the positive pole of 
the dynamo.” 

^Tt seems to me that is a curious way to do it.” 

“Such is the case, however ; but there is no real 
positive or negative in the alternating current, so 
that either side may be termed positive or nega- 
tive.” 

Work on the battery continued for some days, 
as lack of fine tools made much of the work diffi- 
cult, and in doing this work, as in everything else, 
a certain amount of preparation was necessary. 
They had no screws, and no facilities for making 
them, so a substitute had to be devised, but the 
difficult part now to encounter was the preparation 
of the wire. 

“A battery is of no use unless we can have wire, 
and it will be a big job to beat out wire long enough 


BIETHDAY PAETY 


125 


for our purposes,” Harry observed as tbe battery 
neared completion. 

‘‘Then we must draw some wire ?” 

‘‘From what?” 

“From the copper?” 

“Is that better than iron?” 

“Copper should be used for several reasons; 
first, because electricity travels through a copper 
wire more easily than through iron, and second, 
for the reason that copper is more ductile than 
iron, and can be drawn into a wire with greater 
facility.” 

“Doesn’t electricity flow through different sub- 
stances at the same rate of speed?” 

“Yes ; but it retards the amount or the force.” 

“You say, ‘Amount’ or ‘Force.’ I can under- 
stand that if applied to water, that there might 
be a large or small quantity of water, or a greater 
or less pressure, but I do not see how this applies 
to electricity.” 

“In measuring the pressure of water, calculation 
is made by taking the height of the water in the 
tank. For every 28 inches in height a column one 
inch square weighs one pound. This represents 
the force of the water when it issues from the ori- 
fice below. Now the orifice may be large or it may 
be small. The amount or quantity which flows 
out is dependent on the size of the opening. Elec- 
tricity is measured in a somewhat similar manner. 
What is called ‘Volts’ is the same as the force in 
the tank — that is, voltage means the pressure. 
Amperage, on the other hand, refers to the amount 
of current which is passing, and a greater quan- 


126 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


tity will pass over a large wire just the same as 
a greater amount of water will flow through a large 
than a small pipe. Is this perfectly clear to you!” 

‘‘Yes ; I understand the difference, now.” 

The drawing of wire is not a difficult task where 
facilities are at hand, but it must be remembered 
that all their tools were of the crudest kind. 
Harry had prepared a number of bars of copper, 
each having been beaten out to form pieces about 
ten inches long and a half inch thick. A steel 
plate about three-eighths of an inch thick, two 
inches wide, and six inches long, had a number of 
holes bored through it, the largest hole being a half 



T^empla^ 


inch in diameter, and gradually increasing in size, 
the smallest being about a sixteenth of an inch in 
diameter. 

When all was ready Harry was instructed to 
hammer out one end, so it would go through the 
largest hole. The projecting end was then grasped 
by a pair of heavy pliers, and pulled through, so 
that the bar was formed the size and shape of the 
first hole, and of course the bar was lengthened. 
The end was then hammered out so that it would 
go through the next smaller hole, and the same 
process was repeated, and when the wire got larger 
they had a tool which pushed the wire in at the 
same time it was being pulled out at the other side. 


BIRTHDAY PARTY 


127 


It was laborious work, and a long time was con- 
sumed in fully drawing out each bar. In this way 
a quantity of .serviceable wire was prepared. 

‘‘Why does this plate get so hot when we pull 
the wire through!” 

“Why do you make a fire by rubbing together 
two substances?” replied the Professor. 

“On account of the friction.” 

“For that same reason you are making the heat 
in drawing the copper through the die.” 

“But I notice that if I hammer a piece of cold 
iron it will get hot. There is not any rubbing mo- 
tion there to make friction.” 

“Do you think not? You have by that means 
made the most intense friction. The iron is com- 
posed of tiny particles, called atoms, and mole- 
cules. When you strike a piece of iron you force 
these particles in among themselves, and the fric- 
tion caused by this movement produces the heat.” 

“Is that true of all substances?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, if air is forced together will it heat in 
the same way?” 

“Yes, and for the same reason. The tiny par- 
ticles, of which air is composed, move among each 
other with such rapidity, under compression, that 
the heat their frictional contact develops is de- 
pendent on the pressure exerted.” 

“You used the terms ‘atom’ and ‘molecules’ a 
moment ago. What is the difference between 
them?” 

“A molecule is always composed of two or more 
atoms. An atom is smaller than a molecule, for 


128 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


this reason. Furthermore, an atom comprises 
only one substance. A molecule has two or more 
substances in its make-up. For instance, water is 
composed of two parts of hydrogen and one part 
of oxygen. One molecule of water, therefore, has 
three atoms, two of the atoms being hydrogen, 
and one atom oxygen.” 

^‘Baby,” the infant orang-outan, had now grown 
to be a pretty good-sized boy. He would sit at the 
table and gravely eat with a knife and fork, which 
he had learned to handle most intelligently. In 
the various trips which had been made from time 
to time, the Baby was kept at home, but on more 
than one occasion he would follow up the wagon, 
and would as often be welcomed when he did come. 

Harry found a good use for him later on, and 
from that time forward Baby knew that a jaunt 
into. the forest meant a trip for him as well. When 
it came to tree climbing Baby was in his glory. 
He would swing from branch to branch, and shake 
the nuts, and the amusing thing was to see him 
help gather and throw the nuts into the wagon, 
in the most business-like fashion. He was never 
known to laugh, but they had many occurrences 
which, no doubt, made him smile in his own way. 

George was an adept cook. He was fond of 
making surprising delicacies, and boy-like, they 
were always the kind that had honey of some sort 
in their composition. Without any knowledge of 
cooking, but knowing, in a general way, that eggs 
and milk were the principal things used in pud- 
dings, it was not long before he was regarded as 
the chef. Baby was sure to be present whenever 


BIRTHDAY PARTY 


129 


George occupied the kitchen. And help! Why 
certainly ! He knew what flour meant, and partic- 
ularly honey. The truth is, that he knew what 
that meant if George merely looked in the direc- 
tion of the honey pot. 

And talking about eggs! Harry found out 
about this accomplishment in Baby. In the tall 
grass beyond the barley fields were flocks of 
prairie chickens, and during one of the hunting 
expeditions he found several nests of eggs. They 
are just as much more delicious than the common 
egg as the prairie chicken is more delicate than 
the hen. Baby never thereafter forgot the eggs. 
Singularly, he never ate any of them. Apparently 
the orang does not crave them in his native state, 
but the little rascal had an eye to the good things, 
and when he saw the eggs go into the pudding and 
cake, there were no scruples on his part. 

George had been planning a surprise for the 
Professor. In many devious ways he learned his 
age, and August was the month, so in concert with 
Harry, planned to treat the Professor with a birth- 
day party, the first real attempt at jollification 
which had been proposed since they landed. 

remember, he said he would be sixty-five 
years old on the tenth of August.” 

^‘But the trouble is, we don’t know when we get 
to the 10th of the month.” 

^^The chances are he doesn’t know, either. But 
what difference does a day or two make, any- 
way!” 

Among the delicacies which George had pre- 
pared were 65 little sweet cakes, because they 


130 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


couldn’t put that many candles on the big cake, 
and the boys knew, from experience, that they 
would have to use candles, or something else to 
typify the age.” 

The ‘Tenth of August” came, and the Professor, 
in all innocence, proposed a day for hunting. 
Both boys opposed this, to his surprise. The Pro- 
fessor did not press the matter. As usual, when 
at home, he was shut up in what they called the 
laboratory. Even though he should be present in 
the kitchen he would not be likely to take notice 
of any extra preparations. 

In the meantime Harry had made a bell out of 
a flat sheet of steel. It was really a gong. When 
the noon hour arrived and the table had been set 
ready for the symbolic cake pyramid of little cakes, 
George ordered the gong to sound, and Harry 
made such a frightful din with the unexpected 
noise, that Baby was terribly frightened, and 
scampered to the loft, his usual place of retreat 
when reproved or unduly excited. 

The Professor was out of the laboratory like a 
shot, and hurried over to the house. At the same 
time George returned. “Who has taken my 
cakes?” he cried. “There are less than a dozen 
left.” Baby chattered in the loft. The Profes- 
sor could not understand the commotion. All he 
knew was that Baby was swinging along the raft- 
ers and that George was flying around the kitchen 
hunting cakes. 

“Hello, and what is all this? Expecting com- 
pany?” 

“Yes ; this is a birthday party.” 


BIETHDAY PARTY 131 

“That is a good idea. I suppose you have in- 
vited all your friends f’ 

“Yes ; we have invited all we know ; just one.” 

The Professor did not need to be told any more 
than this. His eyes filled with tears, the first real 
thing that the boys ever saw on his part that 
strongly affected them, and when the Professor, 
his heart so full that he could not speak, silently 
looked at them, they forgot the feast, and the 
cakes, and Baby. They thought of home and of 
what they were doing there, and whether the time 
would ever come when they might be rescued. 

Brave Harry was the first to recover. Like a 
veteran he grasped the Professor by the hand, and 
wished him many a happy return of the day, and 
George, though not so demonstrative, joined 
Harry in this wish and prayer. Just then one of 
George’s cakes fell at his feet. He picked it up 
and Harry glanced at the Baby. The mysterious 
disappearance had been solved. 

No! Baby was not spanked. He came down 
without any coaxing, with several of the cookies 
in his hand, and gravely took his place at the table. 
What a very narrow margin there is between tears 
and laughter. They roared as though such a thing 
as tears were unknown. 

When they recovered from their fits of laughter, 
and attempted to proceed with the feast in some 
semblance of order, a glance at Baby was suffi- 
cient to start them up anew. And here a surpris- 
ing thing occurred. As before stated, he never 
had been known to laugh. But now Baby laughed, 
for the first time. And then the boys and the 


132 


EXPLOEINQ THE ISLAND 


Professor knew that this was also the first time 
they had indulged in a hearty laugh. 

^‘You may say what you please,” said the Pro- 
fessor, “but laughter is infectious. How much 
farther a smile will go than a frown. And this 
reminds me of a very curious thing in nature. 
What are called perfumes have been known to 
carry through the air for ten miles. The odor 
from the balsam-yielding Humeriads has been per- 
ceived at a distance of four miles from the shores 
of South America; a species of Tetracera sends 
its perfume as far as that from Cuba, and the 
aroma of the Spice Islands is wafted many miles 
to sea. Now the singular thing is, that vile and 
injurious odors are not carried such distances.” 

“Why not!” 

“For the reason that the oxygen of the air de- 
stroys the bad odors.” 

“I thought of this when we were laughing here 
so merrily a while ago. Laughter is like a per- 
fume, it goes a long way and does not need a 
purifying agent; but the harsh and angry word 
is like the evil smelling substance, which needs 
to he purified.” 


CHAPTEE XI 


THE GKUESOME SKELETON 

The merry party lingered long over the meal. 
Eoast prairie chicken was the chief dish. The 
Professor had found lentils, and this, with pota- 
toes, or cassava, formed the principal dish, to 
say nothing of the sago pudding and the residue 
of the little cakes which just suited Baby’s palate. 

For drink there was plenty of cold water, fresh 
and sparkling, obtained from a natural spring not 
far away. The Cataract Eiver furnished a good 
water, in the sense that it was clear, but it had 
an unpleasant taste at times, so for all cooking 
purposes the water used had to be carried from 
the spring, which was sometimes burdensome. 

“I wish we could purify the Cataract water, as 
it would be a great convenience,” was George’s 
remark, when they were considering their work 
and duties. 

‘‘We can easily do that by using the chips of 
the common oak tree or the charcoal can be used, 
as I have before stated.” 

“It is a curious thing that oak chips will purify 
it. Does it act in purifying the same way as char- 
coal?” 

“We used oak bark for the purpose of tanning 
leather because of the tannic acid it contained. 
The chips of the wood contain tannic acid as well, 
and it does the same thing to the impurities in 
133 


134 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


water that boiling does — ^namely, it coagulates it. 
In Egypt, the muddy waters of the Nile are clari- 
fied and purified by using bitter almonds. In In- 
dia, they use a nut called the Strychnos for this 
purpose.” 

‘Tt seems people everywhere had some idea of 
purifying drinking water.” 

‘^Yes, and through all ages; even the Bible 
speaks of it.” 

^‘Where ?” 

‘^The Book of Exodus. I think the fifteenth 
chapter, says: 

“ ‘So Moses brought Israel from the Eed Sea; 
and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; 
and they went three days in the wilderness and 
found no water. And when they came to Mar ah, 
they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for 
they were bitter; therefore the name of it was 
called Marah. And the people murmured against 
Moses saying. What shall we drink 1 And he cried 
unto the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree, 
which, when he had cast into the waters, the 
waters were made sweet.’ ” 

“Our Cataract water, flowing, as it does, largel^^ 
through forests and past vegetable banks, takes 
up a large quantity of albuminous matter, which 
is so great in quantity that the atmosphere, or the 
oxygen in the air, cannot purify it by the time 
it reaches us, so that if any astringent matter like 
oak, or birch/'or beech, or even alum, is put in the 
water it will cause the albumen to precipitate. In 
the district of La Gironde, France, the waters 
of the Landes are naturally very impure from 


GEUESOME SKELETON 


135 


these causes, but since the cutting and floating 
down of the immense oak forests, the water has 
been made sweet and wholesome.” 

‘TsnT all this curious and wonderful to think 
about!” 

The work of preparing and putting into prac- 
tical form the primary electric battery was going 
forward steadily, and- at the Professor’s sugges- 
tion a number of cells were made, which it might 
be well to describe briefly. 

As the clay was the only available material, each 
cell had to be made rather heavy and clumsy in 
appearance, and was baked when completed. 
Each was ten inches deep and three by six and a 
half inches within. The electrodes, made of zinc, 
were each one-half inch thick, six inches wide, and 
nine inches long. The copper electrodes were the 
same dimensions, except that they were a quarter 
inch thick. These were stood in the cell, a short 
distance apart, and held in position by means of 
notched wooden blocks. 

When all this was completed the cells were filled 
with sulphuric acid that had been made from the 
copper ore. It was, of course, much diluted with 
water, so as not to make it too strong. 

“What is the object in making so many cells!” 

“So as to get the voltage.” 

“Does the voltage depend on the number of the 
cells !” 

“Each cell gives practically two volts, so that if 
we have 20 cells there will be 40 volts ; 30 cells, 60 
volts, and so on.” 

“But where do the amperes come in!” 


136 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


‘‘That depends on the size of the plates forming 
the battery. Surface is required for amperage, 
and quantity of plates for voltage.” 

“Suppose I had plates the size of this table, 
wouldn’t I get more electricity than if I had the 
plates cut up into^ smaller pieces?” 

“Electricity means both volts and amperes. 
There is no such thing as electricity with one of 
those qualities alone. A current may have 2 am- 
peres and 40 volts, or 40 amperes and 2 volts. 
Multiplying the volts by the amperes gives what 



CompHetfJBa^ry comec/lon:> 


is called watts, and there would be 80 watts in 
each case.” 

The determination of the boys to build a new 
and better boat than the old one was now mani- 
festing itself in plans, which were considered. 
George was in favor of building a large vessel, 
by means of which they could sail anywhere they 
wanted to ; but Harry and the Professor opposed 
that plan, for several reasons. Harry, particu- 
larly, objected. 

“I am just as anxious as George to build a 
large boat, but the difficulty is that to do so would 
take a long time, longer that we ought to take at 



GEUESOME SKELETON 


137 


this time. Furthermore, a large vessel would be 
hard to manage with our small crew, as we would 
have to make it a sailing vessel.’^ 

“Then why not make it a steam vessel!” 

“That would make the job still harder and 
longer.” * 

“I think Harry is quite right. A boat but lit- 
tle, if any, larger than the one we built, would be 
the most serviceable. If the one we made had 
been smaller, or lighter, we should have been able 
to carry it around the falls. Instead of that we 
had to leave it there.” 

Harry insisted in his views. “What we can 
do with our present supplies is to build a boat, 
even larger than our former one, and make it 
still lighter.” 

“Yes,” said the Professor ; “we now have lumber 
which is dried, and with the improvement in the 
tools we can turn out a boat which will be a credit 
to any community.” 

That question settled, the plan of the boat was 
drawn up. It was decided to build the boat on 
the general plan of the former one, as to size, 
namely, from sixteen to eighteen feet in length, 
and at least five feet wide, with a flat bottom, the 
prow to be contracted, and the bottom of the for- 
ward end to be bent upwardly, as much as their 
material would permit of bending. 

For this purpose Harry stated that the body of 
the boat would be made of double thickness of 
material, as their sawing machinery had been so 
much improved that they could cut it into five- 
eighth inch lumber, and in that way the joints 


138 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


could be lapped, and tbe sides and bottom more 
easily bent into the required curves to make a 
graceful-looking boat. 

The sawmill was at once put into good work- 
ing condition, and within a week the principal 
parts of the boat were ready to be assembled. 

‘Tn your next weekly jaunt, I suggest that you 
might get our old life-boat. We should not neglect 
our friend.” 

The Professor’s suggestion met with a hearty 
response, and on the following day the boys were 
off early to bring the boat to the Cataract. 

First going to Observation Hill, which was the 
custom of one to do each day, they crawled up the 
rocky sides, and surveyed the horizon. From that 
position they could see across the neck of land, 
east of the Cataract, to the point southeast ; to the 
southwest was the mountain range; to the west 
the forests, and to the northwest the irregular cliff 
line, which ended with another projecting point 
several miles beyond. Along the sea line this was 
the limit of their knowledge. 

‘‘While we are here let us examine the sides of 
Observation point and try to find the old flag- 
staff. I still think it was blown away.” 

Harry’s suggestion was acted upon, and they 
made the trip together over the rocky side toward 
the sea. Observation point was on the mainland, 
and formed the extreme northern limit. It was 
fully half a mile from the grim rock where they 
had been wrecked. Between the two points were 
detached rocks which sprang up out of the water, 
and in which the water was constantly swaying 


GEUESOME SKELETON 


139 


to and fro. When the sea was heavy these rock 
islands made navigation among them a danger- 
ous occupation. 

The tide was then coming in, and eddies and 
cross currents were rushing hither and thither, 
so that it was easy to see that to float the wrecked 
life-boat it must be taken out to sea around the 
rocks. They hesitated to do this under the cir- 
cumstances. 

All sides of the hill were now examined with 
care. As they were about to leave the hill and 
go to the point where the life-boat lay, some wreck- 
age was discovered below them, caught within the 
clefts of the rock. Here, packed in with seaweed 
and brush, was an object which interested them. 

^AVhat is this, George? It looks like the frag- 
ment of a boat; and here is another piece. Let 
us dig it out.^’ 

Both were excited beyond measure at this dis- 
covery. Not only one, but a number of pieces 
were finally removed. It was, beyond question, 
portions of a boat; 

^^Harry, this is part of our boat. See this piece 
of rope; and here is part of an oar. Wait till I 
get to the bottom of this mass.” 

“Eun for the Professor, and I will remove the 
pieces while you are away,” was George^s answer. 

Harry was off at the instant, and in less than 
half an hour, reappeared with the Professor, who 
examined the recovered portions of the wreck. 

^Tt is certainly parts of a boat; but I am sure, 
from the present examination, that it cannot be 
our boat.” 


140 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


The boys were surprised at the information, 
reasons for saying so,” continued the Pro- 
fessor, “is, that the pieces here are not part of a 
life-boat, such as our craft was, although it was a 
part of a ship’s boat. Where is the stern portion 
of our boat that you found ? Let us get that, and 
we will be in a better condition to judge.” 

“We landed it beyond the point where Harry 
first reached the shore the day we were wrecked.” 

“Let us get it at once.” 

In less than a half hour the broken portion of 
the boat was landed at the foot of the cliff in front 
of Observation Hill. 

Harry now had no doubt that the Professor’s 
observation was correct. “See, this has no double 
hull, which the life-boat has, and no part of these 
pieces can be made to fit. Look at this stern. 
All of the stern post is still on the boat below.” 

It was, undoubtedly, another boat; but there 
was no name or number on any of the pieces by 
means of which it could be identified. 

“I believe it was a part of the Investigator's 
equipment,” was the Professor’s final conclusion, 
“Have you recovered all the parts from the 
debris f’ 

“I don’t think we can find anything else. 
While Harry was away I hunted all along the 
point in the hope that some more pieces might 
have been found.” 

The most minute examination was made for 
some mark of identification, but nothing was found 
which would give the least clue. 

“Let us gather all these pieces and keep them 


GRUESOME SKELETON 


141 


for further observation, particularly for the rea- 
son that other parts may be found eventually, and 
identification will then be easier.” 

‘‘Shouldn’t we take the remnant of our life- 
boat to the Cataract?” asked George. 

“By all means. It has just occurred to me that 
we might use that as part of the new boat we are 
building.” 

That was an idea which had not occurred to 
either of the boys. Considering that the portion re- 
covered was the stern, and by far the largest part 
of the vessel, and that it had the double hull con- 
struction, made the suggestion a most acceptable 
one. 

After all parts of the wreckage had been assem- 
bled, the Professor, accompanied by the boys, 
made another tour, much to the left, and on re- 
turning to the boat, the Professor’s eye caught a 
white object lying partially hidden behind a rock. 

“What is that by the rock to the right?” With- 
out waiting for a further suggestion from the Pro- 
fessor, Harry made his way up, and when the ob- 
ject was reached, threw up his hands, without ut- 
tering a word. George had followed, and before 
the Professor had time to reach the spot, he 
cried : “A skull !” 

“There is more than that,” said the Professor. 
“Remove the debris.” 

The boys saw portions of the skeleton plainly 
now. It was such a shock to them that they could 
scarcely speak. 

“Probably that solves the mystery of the wreck- 
age we found.” 


142 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


‘^Undoubtedly,” was the Professor’s only com- 
ment. 

The boys were now absolutely unnerved, but the 
Professor, without noticing their agitated state, 
carefully removed the seaweed and other accumu- 
lation, and found the skeleton largely disjointed, 
excepting the torso, or upper portion of the frame. 

When the entire skeleton had been taken out 



Human Skull 


and arranged, the Professor said : “It seems we 
are to have one mystery after the other.” 

“How long do you suppose this body has been 
here?” 

“Probably ten months or more.” 

The boys looked at each other. “Ten months? 
That is as long as we have been here.” 

“That is one of the reasons why I said ten 
months.” 


GRUESOME SKELETON 


143 


The boys knew what that meant. This was, 
very likely, one of the Investigator's boats, and 
the skeleton the remains of one of their shipmates. 

“Probably it was one of the boys,’’ was George’s 
inquiry. 

“I do not think so,” said the Professor. “The 
skeleton shows that of an individual past middle 
age.” 

“Why do you think sof’ 

“Principally, from my examination, so far, on 
account of the condition of the skull. You see, 
these saw teeth lines, which cross the top portion. 
These are called the sutures, and in infancy they 
are not joined. Before the third period of life 
these joints grow together, so as to form an un- 
divided skull. But wait; here is another indica- 
tion. The teeth seem to be greatly worn, show- 
ing that the person must have been close to the 
sixth period of life.” 

This discovery was the cause of very conflict- 
ing emotions in the boys. They reverently gath- 
ered the bones, and at Harry’s suggestion the 
boys went to the Cataract for the team. The Pro- 
fessor volunteered to remain. 

We may well imagine the feelings of the boys 
as they went on their mission. Here was mute 
evidence that others of the ill-fated ship had met 
disaster. They had often speculated on the fate 
of their companions. How many had been left 
to tell the tale ! 

The yaks were yoked, and taking with them a 
rude box, which had been put together, as the 
Professor suggested, they shortly returned. 


144 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


‘‘Have you found anything new?” was George’s 
first question. 

“The poor fellow was undoubtedly killed when 
he landed, and I think he was a sailor.” 

“Have you found anything which makes you 
think so?” 

“Nothing but what you see before you. That 
break in the skull was, in my opinion, made by 
contact with a rock; furthermore, several of the 
bones were broken, as you see, at the time he met 
with his calamity ; and one of the legs shows where 
it was broken before his death, and had mended.” 

It was a remarkable funeral cortege which 
wended its way slowly back over the hills to their 
home. They felt it was paying a tribute to a 
friend and companion. All doubts on their part 
had been dispelled. He had been one of their 
companions on that terrible night when the explo- 
sion had sent their ship to the bottom, and had 
cast them adrift on a sea which welcomed them 
in raging fury. 

“What shall we do with the skeleton?” 

The Professor was silent a long time before he 
answered. “I do not know what to advise. Per- 
haps, in the future fate may be kind enough to 
restore us to our homes and friends, and if it 
should be that we are the only ones so rescued, 
the skeleton would be a positive means of en- 
abling us to ascertain whether or not he was one 
of our companions, and also to advise his friends.” 

A stone sarcophagus was built, in which the 
remains were deposited after a funeral service 
at which the Professor presided. 


GRUESOME SKELETON 


145 


This event had a most depressing influence on 
the hoys, as well it might, during the entire day, 
and it was the principal topic of their conversa- 
tion while together. During the two days follow- 
ing only brief references were made to the Pro- 
fessor, but the second evening George’s inquisitive 
nature could not hold in any longer. 

“When we were on the rocks examining the skel- 
eton, you referred to the fourth and the sixth ages 
of man.” 

“Yes; in point of growth man has seven ages. 
The first is infancy, which ends at the second year ; 
second, the age which ends at the seventh year; 
third, at the end of fourteen years; fourth, at 
the end of twenty-two years; fifth, at the end of 
forty-seven years; sixth, at the end of sixty-five 
years; and seventh, which ends at death. These 
divisions vary somewhat between males and fe- 
males, and I have given you merely the average 
between the two sexes.” 

“I can’t help feeling sad, when I think of the 
things that have happened, and at the thought 
that all our friends may have been lost.” 

“Sadness is a natural feeling under the circum- 
stances, but after all, why should it be sol Why 
should the sight of the skeleton bring sorrow to 
you 1 Probably the Egyptians had the right idea 
when they always had a skeleton at the feast.” 

“Skeleton at the feast? What was that for?” 

“As a reminder of death?” 

“There is one thing I could never make myself 
understand. Why is death , necessary? Why 


146 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


couldn’t man have been made so he could live al- 
ways?” was Harry’s query. 

‘‘You have asked a very broad question. It is 
one which has a great many answers. At this 
time I shall give only one of the reasons. The 
earth would not be big enough to hold the people. 
I do not know the population of the globe to- 
day. It is about 1,000,000,000 ; and if we take the 
age of the earth at only 5,000 years, we should 
have in that time 125 generations, counting each 
generation as 40 years. Do you know what that 
would mean in population at this time? You 
could not comprehend the figures. Let us take 
the United States alone, as an example. Assum- 
ing that the population is 90,000,000 at the present 
time, and that the natural rate of increase is only 
double in each forty years. This is how it fig- 
ures out : In forty years we would have 270,000,- 
000; in eighty years, 810,000,000; in one hundred 
and twenty years, 2,430,000,000; and in one hun- 
dred and sixty years, 7,290,000,000. At that rate 
New York City would have 480,000,000 of people, 
and its boundaries would take in the whole of the 
State of New Jersey and nearly half of the entire 
State of New York, as thickly settled as that city 
now is.” 


CHAPTER XII 


THE DISTANT SHIP AND ITS DISAPPEAKANCE 

“What is that weed yon have, Professor? The 
root looks like a parsnip.’’ 

“It may be something we can drink.” 

“It looks just like a weed that grows all over 
onr farm at home.” 

“I have no doubt of it. This is the endive, as it 
is known in the States, but it is really chicory.” 

“I have heard of chicory ; isn’t it used as a sub- 
stitute for cofPee?” 

“Principally on account of the bitterness in it. 
The French make the greatest use of it, because 
they claim it gives strength to coffee.” 

“What part of it is used?” 

“The root ; the bulb you see here, and they have 
a curious way of preparing it. The root is dug up 
before the plant shoots into flower, and is washed, 
sliced and dried! it is then roasted until it is 
of a chocolate color. Two pounds of lard are 
roasted with each hundredweight ; and afterwards, 
when ground and exposed to the air, it becomes 
moist and clammy, increases in weight, and smells 
like licorice. When put into cold water it gives 
a sweetish bitter taste, not unlike cotfee.” 

“Let me try some of it, and don’t say anything 
about it to Harry. And now, while I think about 
it, why couldn’t we make some crocks out of our 
clay, so we can use them for our milk. We can’t 
147 


148 EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 

put them in the copper vessels and the iron is just 
as bad.” 

‘‘That is a splendid idea ; and you might as well 
vitrify them.” 

“What do you mean by vitrifying them ?” 

“Putting the glaze on them, just like the com- 
mon crocks have.” 

“That would be simply fine.” 

The Professor explained the process, which con- 
sisted in making the crocks out of the best clay 
available, and then burning them. Afterwards an 
intense heat must be made in the furnace, and 
after soaking the crocks in a strong solution of 
salt brine, they must be put in and burned again ; 
the greater the heat, the better. 

The boys started at this with a will, and when 
they had arranged to make the crocks they found 
it most difficult to put them into a round and uni- 
form shape. 

“I would suggest that you make a potter’s wheel 
for that purpose.” 

“A potter’s wheel? What is^jt like?” 

“It is the simplest thing imaginable. Do you 
think, Harry, you could turn out a wooden vessel 
just the size of the outside of an ordinary milk 
crock, and turn it with a central stem below, and 
also have a little pulley on that stem?” 

The Professor made a drawing (Fig. 29), which 
shows just how he wanted it made. In the draw- 
ing, A is the cup-shape, which is the size and shape 
of outside the crock ; B is the central stem ; and 1) 
is the small pulley on the stem. This was mounted 


DISTANT SHIP 149 

in a pair of arms like CC, and a belt was attached 
to the pulley. 

‘‘You have made a very creditable article. Now 
you may make a flat paddle, and shape one end 
so that it will be just like the inside of the crock.” 



Tbtler^ l/z/ieeL 


The drawing (Fig. 30) shows how it was made, 
with a cross handle at the upper end. 

That day the crocks were turned out in the 
following manner: The potter’s wheel was ro- 
tated about sixty turns a bainute, and the clay, in 
a plastic state, was put in the cup-shaped top, 
and the hands used to force the clay up the side 


150 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


wall. When the crock was formed in as even a 
manner as it conld be by hand, the blade described 
was used to make the interior uniform. 

The potter’s wheel is one of the oldest tools 
known. Its nse can be traced back for more 
than four thousand years, when it was well known 
by the Egyptians. 

Since the day that the boys visited Observation 
Hill, at the time they discovered the skeleton and 
fragments of the boat, no attempt had been made 



to visit the cave. That was the mission when they 
accidentally made their surprising discovery. 

George did not, however, feel that they should 
again make the attempt until they had a better 
lighting means than the unsatisfactory candles, 
and when the supposed petroleum vein dashed all 
hopes of lighting material from that quarter, the 
only remedy seemed to be by way of improving 
their candle-light. 

Harry had progressed well in the making of the 
battery. It was now in a completed state, and he 
announced that the first tests would be made the 


DISTANT SHIP 


151 


next day. In the morning all assembled in the 
factory, and the sulphuric acid solution was made 
up. 

The Professor inspected the batteries. Ten 
cells had been prepared, so that they could have, at 
least, fifteen volts. When all the cells had been 
connected together — that is, the positive pole of 
one cell with the negative pole of the other — a 
wire was attached at each end of the row of cells, 
at the last electrodes, so as to form the outside 
connections. 

When the two outside wires were brought to- 
gether and their contact broken a spark was 
plainly shown, which was an indication that the 
battery was generating electricity. The hoys 
danced about with joy at this exhibition. From 
that time forward the battery was one of the most 
interesting things in the laboratory, and what they 
finally accomplished with it will he fully detailed 
as we go along in their history. 

George thought he saw a way to make the light 
necessary for the cave. ^‘Why can’t we rig up 
an electric light now and explore the cave?” 

‘We might do that, but we have several things 
to do before we can have light from that source.” 

“Haven’t we the electricity for it?” 

“Do you know how many years electricity was 
known before electric light was discovered? Be- 
fore we can utilize this agency for lighting pur- 
poses, we must make a machine which will pro- 
duce a vacuum; we must make glass; we must 
learn to carbonize threads ; and the art of blowing 
glass would be a necessary accomplishment.” 


152 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


“As usual,” said Harry, “something must be 
made to make something that makes something 
else.” 

“But can we make electric light without putting 
it in a glass bulb?” 

“Yes ; we can make what is called the arc light; 
instead of the incandescent.” 

“What is the difference between the two!” 

“In the incandescent, such as we talked about 
making, a thin carbon filament is enclosed in a 
glass bulb, from which as much air as possible 
has been exhausted, and when a current of elec- 





trtc tarc . 


tricity passes through this filament, it is heated 
up to a white heat.” 

“Why doesn’t it burn out!” 

“It does bum out in time. What preserves it, 
however, for a long time, is that most of the 
oxygen has been exhausted from the bulb ” 

“Oh, yes ; I know, there must be oxygen to sup- 
port combustion, so that the carbon is merely 
heated up!” 

“I am glad you remembered that. The arc 
light, on the other hand, depends on an entirely 
different thing. You have seen, no doubt, the 
long black pencils used in the large lamps. That 


DISTANT SHIP 153 

is carbon also, made out of ground coke, molded 
and compressed into shape.’^ 

‘^Wbat does arc mean?’^ 

“Did you notice that when we put together the 
two circuiting ends of the wires in our battery 
this morning, we could not notice the existence of 
a current, but whenever we pulled them apart we 
had a spark? 

“Let us now make a little experiment which 
will show you the arc. You see, I am making a 
sharp point at the end of each wire, and I will 
fasten one of the wires so it cannot be moved. 
Now the other wire will be placed with its point 
as close to the other points as possible, and so 
fixed to the support that we can adjust it still 
closer and hold it. See, the points now touch 
each other. I will move one of the wires the 
slightest distance away from the other. There! 
see the light?’’ 

“But it goes out in a little while; what is the 
cause of that?” 

“The electricity has been burned otf the end 
of the wire, and the distance is now too great 
for the electricity to jump from one to the other, 
so they must be moved closer together. That 
space between the ends of the two wires is the 
electric arc. Instead of the two wires the carbon 
pencils are used.” 

“But how are the two carbon pencils kept apart 
at the right distance at all times ?” 

“That is what the invention of the arc light 
consisted in; to find a means whereby the cur- 
rent itself makes the adjustment necessary to fur- 


154 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


nish a steady, constant light. When we start 
to make the arc light the mechanism can be ex- 
plained.^’ 

George’s scheme of the electric lamp for the 
cave had vanished. But the cave must be ex- 
plored. He was determined on that point. 

The yaks were brought out and a start made 
for the cliffs. After unhitching them from the 
wagon and unyoking the animals, so they could 
feed in the meantime, the oil lamps were taken 
out and carefully examined. The Professor had 
suggested the advisability of carrying with them 
two of the spears, which, it will be remembered, 
formed part of the weapon equipment of their last 
voyage, and those, with the guns, were considered 
sufficient for any foe likely to be in the cave. 

Harry, on this occasion, volunteered to mount 
Observation Hill for their daily trip of observa- 
tion. He returned by the time the yaks were dis- 
posed of and the implements prepared, as stated. 

‘T suggest,” said the Professor, “that we keep 
constantly on the alert now for any vestiges of 
driftwood, or other objects which we are likely to 
find along the shore.” 

As a result the progress was slow, and the 
scrutiny keen on the part of all. As they rounded 
the last large projecting rock, just before entering 
the gorge which led to the cave, Harry jumped on 
a rock, waving his hand, and crying, as he pointed 
seaward: “A sail! A ship! See itf’ 

The agitation of George was beyond all de- 
scription. Harry kept repeating the words. He 
was entirely beyond control. 


DISTANT SHIP 


155 


“Be calm; do not become excited. Harry, you 
are the most nimble ; run to Observation Hill : here 
take the large sheet in the wagon ; wave it there, 
and keep up the signaling ; they may see you.” 

The ship, although far away, was plainly made 
out, but its character could not be determined. It 
was evidently a large sailing vessel. Just imag- 
ine what must have been the feelings of the party 
at the sight of the ship, although so far away. 
Would they see the signal! 

In the commotion that followed, what was the 
Professor doing! He quickly placed two stakes 
in line with the ship, and watched it patiently. 
“It is moving to the west.” 

George’s curiosity induced him to look over the 
Professor’s shoulder, and thus enable him to fol- 
low the movement of the boat, and by means of 
which he could see the sails slowly move past the 
distant stake. 

The Professor scarcely moved. “What is 
Harry doing! Is he still signaling!” 

“Yes; he hasn’t stoiDped since he reached the 
hill.” 

The stake nearest the Professor was again 
moved over a trifle as the ship moved on, and 
they watched and waited. 

“Why, the ship hasn’t moved for the last ten 
minutes.” 

“It seems not,” was the Professor’s response. 
Again they waited. George walked to the stakes 
and back again. He stepped aside to look at 
Harry on the hill, and again returned to the obser- 
vation stakes. 


156 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


‘^Singular that the ship hasn’t moved in twenty 
minutes or more.” 

Then, enthusiastic at the mere thought, he cried 
out, as he ran toward the Professor: ^^Do you 
think they have seen our signal! Have they 
stopped; and are they returning!” 

^‘Either that or they have changed their course, 
and are now leaving us dead ahead.” 

This was a blow to the poor boy, whose hopes, 
brought about by the apparently checked motion 
of the ship, were now dashed to the ground, when 
the Professor continued : “They are sailing away, 
I am sorry to say.” 

He left the observation stakes. Poor Harry was 
still signaling frantically. The Professor told 
Harry that further effort in that direction would 
be useless, and he slowly , and sadly came down 
the hill. 

They looked at each other most sorrowfully, 
and the boys could scarcely restrain their tears, 
while the Professor carefully avoided their gaze, 
or seemed not to notice their grief. 

“It is one satisfaction to know,” said Harry, 
as he dolefully looked across the broad sea, “that 
vessels do come this way, and that it is not out of 
the world entirely.” 

George quickly recovered. “Why not make a 
big signal flag for Observation Hill!” This was 
seconded by the Professor. 

“And while we are about it why not make a 
good old American flag!” was Harry’s comment. 

The cave had been forgotten in this incident. 
When their wondering and questionings had 


DISTANT SHIP 157 

ceased, the descent was made around the point, 
and the entrance soon reached. 

The two lamps were now lighted, and the ex- 
plorations began. 

think it is advisable,” was the Professor’s 
first observation, “that we go in a hundred feet 
or so, and then mount one of our lamps in a con- 
spicuous place. We can then proceed with the 
other as far as the water, and if any accident 
happens it will not cause trouble to both of the 
lights. We can always have one of them to fall 
back on.” 

When they had gone the distance determined 
on, a secure ledge was selected, and Harry placed 
the light so it would cast its beams along the cave. 

“Be careful now, we are near the water.” 

The Professor had now the other light, and 
the boys led the way, so the beams from the light 
shone past ahead of them. They went beyond 
the point where the water had been found previ- 
ously, but there was no sign of it. The course of 
the cave now changed to the right, and the floor 
of the cave went downwardly at a slight descent. 

The Professor suddenly restrained the boys. 
“Wait a moment; the light behind us should be 
brought forward to this point.” 

George went back and brought it up, and after 
some delay a place for it was found. The two 
lights now plainly showed a sudden enlargement 
in the area of the cave, and above them hung 
what appeared to be huge icicles, giving the inte- 
rior a weird appearance. Still no water was in 
sight. 


158 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


‘^The white substances we see all around us in- 
dicate that above us the rocks are limestone, and 
water, in coming through, has acted on the stone 
so as to form carbonate of lime, or chalk.” 

The single lamp was now sufficient to light up 
the interior, which looked like a domed iceberg, 
with all sorts of fantastic figures standing out 
in bold relief, which were contrasted by the many 
dark recesses irregularly scattered about every- 
where. 

‘T see an opening beyond,” was Harry’s remark, 
in a suppressed tone. 

The contracted opening was to the left, and he 
quickly made his way over the uneven floor to 
that point. ^‘The water is beyond, and I hear 
something there.” 

George quietly moved forward. The light from 
the Professor’s lamp glistened on the surface, and 
rippling waves were easily distinguished. 

“What has become of the light we had on the 
perch?” was the Professor’s startling inquiry. 

The boys looked back. It was not there. Prob- 
ably it had gone out. 

“We must not go on until we have relighted it,” 
was the Professor’s caution. 

George went back. The light from the Profes- 
sor’s lamp still threw its rays back to the ledge, 
which was not more than a hundred feet from their 
present location. “I can’t find it. It is not here, 
and I know I put it on this ledge. Here is the 
piece of lime I put up against it.” 

Too startled for words, Harry drew back from 
the opening. Without further conversation he and 


DISTANT SHIP 


159 


the Professor retraced their steps toward George, 
who was now frantically searching every crevice. 

‘‘That is too bad. Are yon snre this is the 
place?” 

“I am positive of it.” 

The boys looked at the Professor. He knew 
they mentally asked whether they should proceed 
with the single light. “I think it would be unwise 
to go farther with one light only. If we can do 
no better we can make a half dozen lights, and 
light up the whole cave. I am just as much inter- 
ested in it now as you are.” 

They were about six hundred feet from the 
mouth of the cave, as nearly as could be esti- 
mated. 

“Befora we return we might as well chart the 
cave, so we shall have some idea of its crooks and 
turns. Have we anything to measure with? If 
not, have you a cord, so we can get some idea of 
distances ?” 

George held out one of the spears, which was 
about five feet long. 

“That will answer,” said the Professor. “Let 
us call this five feet long for the present. The 
first thing we must do is to establish a base line. 
But what shall we do for something to mark our 
chart on? I haven’t a bit of paper.” 

Here was another difficulty. It would be im- 
possible to make tracings on their clothing. 
Harry’s wit came to the rescue. “I have it. Why 
can’t we break off a piece of this chalk. Prob- 
ably we can find some smooth piece that will an- 
swer.” 


160 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


^‘That might be done,” was George’s answer, on 
reflection; ‘^but what can be nsed to mark on 
chalk f’ 

The Professor was now highly, amused. ‘^Can’t 
yon think of anything we have here which will 
answer?” 

^T haven’t had a pencil, or anything except char- 
coal, since we touched this wonder island.” 

^AVe have something here that is used among all 
civilized people the world over for marking pur- 
poses.” The boys opened their eyes in wonder. 
“I have it here,” said the Professor, looking at 
the lamp. 

‘^The lamp?” 

^^No, not the lamp, but what is in the lamp.” 

“The oil? Where can we get anything to mark 
with in the oil?” 

“We have been making a marking material all 
the time we have been in the cave, and you are 
just as well acquainted with it as anything you 
know. It is the soot from the burning oil.” 

The boys laughed, not at the information, but 
at their stupidity. 

“Yes; the soot is carbon, and the best soot is 
made by imperfectly burning oil, or fat, or any 
other fuel which has a large amount of carbon.” 

The boys found several pieces of flat chalk, one 
of them a little over a foot long. This was held 
above the flame of the candle until covered with 
soot. 

“The first thing to do is to establish a base line. 
This we will mark A on the drawing. Now, start- 
ing from the point here where we lost the light. 


DISTANT SHIP 


161 



you may measure along the line to the west, we 
will say, until you get to the other end of the 
chamber. Twenty-five measures of the spear? 
That makes the chamber 125 feet long, and it is 
about 90 feet the other way. Let us roughly out- 



162 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


line the floor plan. Now go out toward the month 
of onr cave, and measure off 50 feet. Stop there. 
Yon see, I have marked the line A and have laid 
down the slate slab so that this line is exactly 
on a line with the one yon have measured along 
the chamber. The point B, 50 feet from here, 
which yon have just measured, makes an angle, C.. 
I will now take the slab to the point B, and yon 
may measure off 50 feet more, and we will call 
that D. That gives ns another angle line, E. 
Yon see, at every point we establish a new base 
line. C is the base line for the line E, and so 
on all through the cave.” 

All the measurements were made on the plan 
outlined, and scratched on the sooted slab. 

^‘One thing more we must observe. As we are 
marking the successive points, you will notice that 
I took particular care to observe the side walls 
of the passageway, so that I could roughly outline 
them, noting the distances from the various points, 
and in a crude way marking out the irregularities 
between the points.” 

The chart interested the boys so intensely that 
the disappearance of the light did not again recur 
to them until they emerged from the mouth of 
the cave, when it all came back again, with added 
wonder and speculation. How many more mys- 
terious things would present themselves ! 


CHAPTER XIII 

THE EXCITING HUNT IN THE FOKEST 

They returned to their home with conflicting 
emotions. It had been an eventful day. They 
had a glimpse of the outside world, and an experi- 
ence below the surface of the earth. Both were 
unsatisfying. They could explain the one far 
away on the sea ; but the other, close at hand, was 
a mystery. 

^‘How do you account for the water being so 
far away from the mouth of the cave?” was 
George’s inquiry after the evening meal. 

“Haven’t you noticed that we have had no rain 
for the past five weeks?” 

Such was, indeed, the case. The boys had not 
been observant, like the Professor. 

“Evidently the water is supplied from rains, and 
the floor of the cave permits more or less of the 
water to leak through, so that, in time, if we had 
no rains, the cave would be entirely free of water.” 

“But how about the animal in there ; if it is a 
water animal, how did it get in ; and if the water 
ever dries up, how can it live there?” 

“There may not be any subterranean connec- 
tion directly with the sea, and the animal has been 
trapped there; or it may be able to reach the 
sea in the cave at any time, by some underground 
channel.” 

“How far do you think the cave goes in?” 

163 


164 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


^‘That is one of the impossible things to say. 
It may extend for miles. Like yourselves, I am 
curious to kiio’v^-jall about it, as soon as we can 
make further investigations. In the meantime, 
donT forget about the flag.” 

had forgotten that. I am willing to start 
on it in the morning. How large should it be 
made?” 

‘‘We should make it a regulation flag, by all 
means.” 

“Let me see ; how many stripes must we have ?” 
said Harry. 

“I know ; thirteen.” 

“Yes ; and they must be red and white.” 

“That is correct,” responded the Professor; 
“but do you remember how many of each?” 

The boys were silent. 

“The top and the bottom stripes are red, and 
the intervening ones white. What do these stripes 
represent?” 

“The original States.” 

“I see you have a pretty good recollection. I 
remember a class of over forty boys, on one occa- 
sion, which had only three boys who recalled that. 
Then we must have a field of another color, up in 
the corner.” 

“That is the blue field, with stars on it.” 

“Yes ; but how many stars?” 

“A star for each State.” 

“And how many States are there now?” 

There was no response to this. How many 
boys or men, even, can tell offhand the number 
at the present time? 


EXCITING HUNT 165 

“There were 48 before we sailed. How many, if 
any, were added since I do not know.’^ 

The next day the boys were ^'axi' ns to set to 
work on the flag. There was plenty of the ramie 
cloth at hand, but it was quite yellow. George 
noticed this, and said ; “It seems to me we shall 
have to be content with making the flag red, yel- 
low and blue, that is, if we can get the red and 
the blue.” 

“No,” was the Professor’s rejoinder; “we must 
make it red, white and blue.” 

“But how can we make the ramie cloth white!” 

“By bleaching it.’ ’ 

That was a new idea; to make white cloth. 

“How can we do it?” 

“Wet it and put it in the sun. If we want to 
hurry it up we can use some chloride of lime.” 

“But where is the chloride of lime ?” 

“Ho you remember that black ore we have in 
the laboratory, which is called manganese ? If we 
put some of the sulphuric acid on that a gas will 
be formed, called chlorine, one of the most power- 
ful bleaching compounds known. We can use it 
in that form, or subject some of our lime to the 
gases, and in that case make chloride of lime.” 

The decision was to make the flag sixteen feet 
long and nine feet nine inches wide, so that each 
stripe would be nine inches wide. The blue field 
would be five feet wide and seven feet long. 

This was certainly a task, and the boys were 
directed to prepare four strips of red and three 
strips of white, each nine feet long, and also three 
strips of white and three strips of red sixteen 


166 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


feet long. Four of the short strips and three of 
the long strips were then laid aside to be dyed 
red. The other strips were put out to bleach. 

When all this was prepared George was troubled 
about the colors. 

^‘Professor, I do not see what we can use to 
make the blue and red colors.” 

“I think we are fortunate in having one of the 
varieties of the madder plant all about here.” 

‘Ts that a good dye plant?” 

^Tt is a plant that is more extensively used for 
dyeing than any other in the world. For many 
years, until the products from petroleum began to 
come in, it was the only source for the red colors, 
because of its permanence. The dye is so power- 
ful that it will turn the bones of animals red, if 
they are fed on it, and it also colors the claws and 
beaks of birds.” 

‘‘Have you seen any of it here ?” 

“There is plenty of it growing here. You can- 
not mistake it. It is the plant with the elongated, 
smooth-edged leaf, which grows on the main stem, 
from which the small, thin stems branch out that 
carry the little red flowers.” 

“I know what you mean ; let me get some of them 
at once.” And George was otf after the plant. 

Meanwhile Harry was busily at work cutting out 
the double set of stars required for the blue field. 

Several days before this George had prepared 
the roots of the chicory plant, as will be remem- 
bered, and it had been dried, and was ready to be 
ground up. At the noon meal he served the first 
cup of “cotfee,” to the delight of Harry, who was 


EXCITING HUNT 167 

completely taken by surprise, and afforded much 
amusement for George and the Professor. 

‘Tt seems to be rather strong,” was Harry’s only 
comment, “and even if it isn’t real coffee, it is 
good enough, I assure you.” 

“Wouldn’t it be injurious to take too much of 
itr’ 

“Exactly with this as with everything else. It 
is not the use, but the abuse, that causes trouble. 
Of course, chicory does not have the soothing and 



hunger-staying qualities of the real coffee, but the 
bitter principle in the root is a tonic, and the ex- 
tract is used as a medicine for that purpose. The 
leaves of the endive, of which we are using the 
roots, make a most delicious salad.” 

“Don’t many people use this as a kind of an 
intoxicant?” 

“If used to excess it has an exhilarating influ- 
ence, on account of its tonic properties.” 

“I have often thought it was wonderful,” said 
Harry, “that people all over the world have some 


168 


EXPLOKING THE ISLAND 


kind of a weed or plant that they use to stimulate 
themselves with.” 

‘‘There seems to be a universal instinct in man 
to select the strong and bitter principles for that 
purpose. The aborigines of Central America used 
rolled tobacco leaves ages before Columbus was 
born ; and the coca leaf, chewed by the lowest or- 
ders of the Peruvians, was for ages, and is now, 
their main source of strength and comfort. So 
opium, hemp and the betel-nut have been used 
by eastern Asiatics from the remotest antiquity; 
and the same is true of the pepper plants of the 
South Sea Islands and the Indian Archipelago; 
also of the thorn apples used among the natives 
of the Andes, and on the slopes of the Himalayas. 
In northern Europe the ledum and the hop have 
been so used, and in Siberia the narcotic fungus 
has been eaten from time immemorial.” 

At that moment Baby appeared on the scene, 
his hands and one side of his head dyed a beauti- 
ful red, presenting a ludicrous appearance. The 
first glance at him was one of astonishment; but 
realizing that he had been testing George’s newly 
made dye, all burst out in laughter at the amusing 
sight. 

“You really look like a red angel,” was George’s 
greeting, and Baby seemed to relish the joke. 
From that time forward Baby’s name was “Bed 
Angel,” but it took him some time to learn what 
the new title was. It took him much longer to 
acquire it than it did to learn what honey meant. 

“Red Angel is certainly a very smart little 
chap,” said the Professor, with a laugh, “because 


EXCITING HUNT 


169 


he was really doing what is done in the dyeing art 
and in chemistry every day, furnishing a test 
sample.” 

“Test sample; what is that?” 

“In the art of dyeing it is the custom, before 
commencing to dye goods, to make a test sample, 
and all goods dyed must come up to the standard 
set by that sample. That is called the Test 
sample.’ ” 

“But how do the chemists use it?” 

“In the analyses of chemicals one of the proc- 
esses is by what is called the color metric test — 
that is, the test by color. The chemist makes a 
solution with a known quantity of the element in 
it which is of full strength and purity, and is there- 
fore of a well-defined color. Now, if any sub- 
stance is to be analyzed, the same reagent is used 
in the tested sample as was used to make the well- 
known sample. The color of the unknown sample 
is then compared with the known sample, and the 
quantity determined by the difference of color in 
the two.” 

“What do you mean by reagent?” 

“A substance used to effect a chemical change 
in another substance. For instance, what is called 
Nessler’s Eeagent is a substance which, if put into 
water, will detect one part of ammonia in twenty 
million parts of water, and give a perceptible red- 
dish-yellow tinge.” 

“Well, Eed Angel has certainly made a good test 
sample for us ; isn’t that a good color?” 

The blue color was still wanting when the other 
parts were ready, and the Professor came to the 


170 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


laboratory with a sample of bitter-sweet, the com- 
mon hedge plant of North America. The boys 
both recognized the plant and were surprised to 
learn that it contained a dye suitable for their 
purpose. 

‘AVe can use this or take some of the copper 
ore, that is, the blue vitriol part of the ore, and by 
putting it in a lime-water solution a beautiful blue 
color can be obtained.” 

The flag, when completed, was really a work of 
art. They gave many days to the task, and were 
proud of it. The question of a suitable pole or 
flagstaff was one which now absorbed their ener- 
gies. As nothing of the kind was found in the 
immediate neighborhood, it was suggested that on 
their regular hunting day it should be made a part 
of their duty to find a staff worthy to be installed. 
The trips to the cave, and the absorbing work of 
preparing the flag, had so taken up the time, that 
they had entirely forgotten the regular outings. 

On this occasion they insisted that the Professor 
should accompany them, and George declared that 
the only place available for a good pole would be 
in the forest below the South River, where they 
had shot the ocelots. 

The yaks were prepared, as usual, and it was a 
merry party which started off on that bright morn- 
ing for the forest. They did not, you may be sure, 
forget the spears and the guns, and before leaving 
home Harry thought it would be a good idea to 
provide a small two-wheeled truck, which could be 
used as a trailer, for the pole. 


EXCITING HUNT 


171 


On the way down, Harry said : ^'How large a 
pole shall we get?’^ 

George had his opinions, as nsnal : ^‘Let ns get 
a pole at least 50 feet long. We must have some- 
thing which will match the flag.” 

pole that length will be a difficnlt matter to 
raise; have yon thonght of thatf^ was the Profes- 
sor^s observation. 

‘UanT we rig np something to raise it with?” 

^Wes ; and for a pole a hnndred feet long, if nec- 
essary.” 

The Professor made no farther objections. 
Beaching the Sonth Kiver the yaks were tethered, 
and taking advantage of the raft which they had 
nsed on the first trip, they were soon on the way 
into the forest. On this occasion they took a 
conrse to the right of their former exploits, the 
desire being to acqnaint themselves, as mnch as 
possible, with the topography of the conntry to- 
ward the falls. Soon they came within sight of 
game, sqnirrels, woodchncks; and many familiar 
varieties of birds were seen on all sides. 

¥/hat interested the boys most was an animal 
about three and a half feet long, and almost three 
feet high, which they saw at a distance. 

^‘What is that. Professor?” 

^Tt is a giant ant-eater, found in many parts of 
South America.” 

^^Wliat a big bushy tail he has.” 

‘‘He uses that in a peculiar way. When he 
sleeps he lies on one side, rolls himself up so that 
his snout lies on his breast, places all his feet 
together, and covers himself with that bushy tail. 


172 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


As the hair of the tail resembles hay, or the sur- 
rounding dried grass, it is likely to be passed by 
without being noticed.” 

‘T wish we could get a shot at him.” 

‘‘There is a fine pole,” said Harry, whose keen 
interest was as great in that quarter as in the 
hunting. 



Figure 34. 


The Giant Ant-eater 

It was an exceptionally fine specimen of shell- 
bark hickory, and the base was nearly six inches 
in diameter, but it was as straight as a line, appar- 
ently, and it was fully thirty feet to the first limb. 

“You couldnT get a better pole; but hickory is 
one of the heaviest woods, and being green, it will 


EXCITING HUNT 173 

be a task to raise it. It weighs, dry, about 45 
pounds per cubic foot.” 

“What is the weight of a cubic foot of water?” 

“About sixty-four pounds.” 

“How much do you think that pole will weigh 
when it is trimmed up ?” 

The Professor, after carefully surveying the tree 
for a time, answered: “It will weigh fully 400 
pounds, but I am in favor of taking it, as we know 
shell bark is a good American tree, and it is the 
kind of wood we usually select on account of its 
strength. I know it will resist any winds likely to 
come our way.” 

It was at once cut down, and on measuring was 
found to be 58 feet up to the branching top, at 
which point it was not less than two inches in 
diameter. 

“Cut it off above the last crotch, as we shall want 
that part to attach the top pulley between.” 

Now that it was cut and trimmed, the problem 
was to convey it back to the river. 

“Do you think we can induce the yaks to swim 
across the river?” 

“That’s a capital idea, Harry; let us go back 
and try it.” 

“While you are getting the animals I shall do 
some investigating,” said the Professor. 

The boys crossed the river and took the two- 
wheeled truck across. “It might be amusing to 
the Professor, if he found we had taken the truck 
across before we knew whether the yaks could be 
induced to go over.” Harry laughed at George, 


174 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


and answered: “How sliall we manage it? We 
had better keep them yoked, I suppose.” 

After some urging, they were driven to the 
water, the boys having tied a rope to the yoke 
before they went into the river. To their great 
surprise and relief, the yaks made no objections, 
and immediately started out at a great rate for 
the opposite shore, and before they had gone 
twenty feet were swimming. The boys in the raft 
held on tightly and were drawn across without fur- 
ther trouble. 

As they left the river for the trip, they distinctly 
heard a shot. 

“I wonder what the Professor has shot? Did 
you hear him?” They listened intently. The shot 
appeared to come from a point considerably to the 
left of the place where the pole had been cut, but 
they paid little attention to that. After they had 
gone halfway another shot was heard, this time 
at a point which indicated that the Professor must 
be some distance away. 

As anticipated, the Professor was not in the 
location of the pole. 

“I donT think the Professor expected us back 
so soon,” was Harry’s suggestion. “Let us rig 
up the pole and hitch the team, and by that time 
he may be back.” 

In less than a half hour this was done, ready 
for a start; still no signs of the Professor. 

“I think we had better fire a shot to let him 
know we are here.” 

“Singular we didn’t think of that before; here 
goes.” Waiting fully a quarter of an hour after 


EXCITING HUNT 


175 


the shot, they were surprised at not hearing any 
response from him. ‘T wonder,” continued Harry, 
‘hf he has met with some accident?” 

‘‘We heard it in this direction, didn’t we? Don’t 
let us waste any more time. Get the guns and am- 
munition. Hurry up ; and let us take a spear ; it 
may be useful.” 

Each boy took a spear, as a matter of precau- 
tion, and set out. At intervals the boys shouted, 
and after wandering about for fully a half hour, 
determined to try another shot. This was an- 
swered by a shot apparently from the direction of 
the team, and the boys turned about and hurriedly 
made their way back. 

It happened that the boys had actually lost their 
way, and in the excitement all sense of direction. 
The Professor had made a complete circle and 
the boys in their wanderings had executed a com- 
plete loop within that circle, and were actually 
going back to the river instead of to the team. 

‘T can’t understand this business,” said George, 
in a despairing tone. “We have traveled far 
enough to get back to the team twice over. Let’s 
try another shot.” It was answered by a shout 
from the Professor, close by, to their left, and 
when they appeared in sight he was seated on the 
log leisurely driving the yaks, laughing in a quiet 
way, and apparently not noticing the discomfiture 
of the boys. 

“We thought you were lost,” said George; 
“didn’t you hear us firing?” 

“How does it happen you are going in this direc- 
tion?” was the Professor’s quizzical remark, which 


176 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 



Chart Showing How the Boys Were Lost 


he uttered with a faint suspicion of a smile. As 
the boys did not reply, he continued: ‘‘Did you 
expect to find the team at the river f’ 

Of course, they all had a good laugh at this. 



EXCITING HUNT 


177 


because the direction they were taking, and the 
position in which the Professor found them, were 
sufficient to indicate that they were really lost, 
and that he knew it. 

‘T felt satisfied,” was his final remark, ‘^that you 
had not a well-defined idea of your direction when 
you fired the last time, but you will learn in time 
how to keep your direction, and what is more, you 
will never again permit an excited condition of 
the mind to make you take a crooked path.” 

The boys looked wonderingly at the Professor. 

^^How,” asked Harry, ^^does an excited mind 
make anyone take a crooked path!” 

‘‘When the mind is excited, it is, for the time, 
deranged, like soldiers, frequently on the field 
of battle, who are wounded, without having the 
least knowledge of it. The sense of direction is 
a well-developed trait in some people; in others, 
it does not exist at all. But in the case of either, 
the moment the mind is excited, it becomes abnor- 
mal ; some lose the ability to judge distances, some 
are unable to talk, and others canT do anything 
but talk. All judgment for the time disappears. 
Now, take that person in a forest, and highly ex- 
cite him, and he has absolutely no judgment of 
distance or direction, and is not in a good position 
to mark and follow a course with intelligence. I 
have spoken thus fully on the subject, in order to 
warn you, that under no circumstances should you 
ever set out on such a mission as you have with 
the least cloud of excitement. It is far better not 
to go at all.” 

It was a warning the boys never forgot. 


CHAPTEE XIV 

THE RAISING OF THE FLAG AND ANGELAS PART IN IT 

On the return home that evening they were sur- 
prised to find Eed Angel absent. Frequently he 
would go with them on their trips, but he was 
purposely left at home on this occasion. He had 
ample opportunity to roam at will during their 
absence, and had never strayed away. 

‘^It is very singular he cannot be found. I 
searched the house, the shop, and the cattle range, 
and he is nowhere in sight.” 

It was a grief to all to miss him, as all had 
learned to appreciate his mischievous tricks, and 
George had taken a delight in ^^educating” him. 
Probably now, that he had grown to a more mature 
age, the spirit of the wild life possessed him, and 
he had taken French leave at the first opportunity. 

George missed him more than Harry, because as 
cooking was one of George’s accomplishments, and 
as honey was the weak spot in Eed Angel, the 
kitchen was an attraction, and the reward for serv- 
ice in the kitchen was this delicious sweet. 

Their stock of this was running low. George 
was not as liberal with honey of late, and after 
ruminating on the subject of the disappearance, he 
concluded that Eed Angel had cause for “running 
away,” 

The next morning while at breakfast, who should 
appear at the door but Eed Angel, his long fingers 
178 


EAISING OF FLAG 


179 


and palms holding a quantity of nuts. He evi- 
dently saw that the welcome was most enthusiastic 
on the part of all. With the utmost gravity he 
shambled across the floor and deposited the nuts 
on the table and took his usual place in the most 
matter-of-fact way, and commenced on the nuts as 
though it was part of a solemn duty. 

George’s hand reached out for the honey; Angel 
saw it, a quizzical look came on his face — a real 
orang smile — and he forgot about the nuts. 

In a spirit of fun George helped himself with- 
out offering any. This was too much for the ani- 
mal, and with a shrewd, calculating look he pushed 
the nuts over to George. 

Did he get any honey after this? George could 
not resist this appeal ; and after Angel got it, and 
George helped himself to nuts, the Simian ap- 
proval was very marked. Do you think he rea- 
soned? 

Preparations must now be made for ^‘pole-rais- 
ing day.” In the absence of a sufficient amount of 
rope the last bearskin was cut up into strips, as 
it was necessary to have nearly a hundred feet, 
and the bearskin was a much-needed addition to 
the small quantity of ramie cord which they had 
on hand. 

The Professor took a keen interest in the pro- 
ceedings. “We must get a half dozen forked poles 
of good wood ; they should be of different lengths, 
to support the pole as it goes up. Then, Harry, 
as we have a pretty tough job before us, I sug- 
gest that you make two capstans, something like 
those you saw on shipboard, around which the 


180 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


two raising ropes can be wound, each to have a 
crank, and a means for holding the crank at any 
position.” 

The preparations occupied the greater part of 
the day. Several boards, five feet long, were re- 
quired, and at least a dozen stakes to hold the cap- 
stans in position. 

Early the following morning the yaks were 
brought out, yoked up, and the pole and truck 



hitched on. A luncheon was provided, the flag 
and all paraphernalia assembled and loaded, and 
Red Angel invited to attend the ceremonies. 

Reaching Observation Hill, a spot for the pole 
was selected, and a hole three feet in diameter and 
five feet deep was laboriously dug out. It was. 
indeed, a trying task, with the tools they had, but 
it was a labor of love. It was more than that to 
them. They were now making preparations to 
notify the world that they still lived. 

The top of the pole had been provided with a 
pulley, which was mounted between the crotch, and 


EAISING OF FLAG 


181 


a guard put over the pulley, so it would prevent 
the halliards from coming off. When it had been 
placed in position, with the foot across the hole, 
the two boards were stood down in the pit so the 
end of the pole was against them. The halliards 
were then strung over the pulley and looped down, 
and the three ropes were attached to the pole, 
twenty feet from the lower end. Together they 
raised it up, so that it was about five feet from the 
ground at the point where the ropes were tied. 
Two of the ropes were then carried out past the 
hole, and branched out, and attached to the cap- 
stans, while the other was allowed to hang. As 
the capstans turned, the pole was gradually drawn 
up, and the Professor stood ready with the forked 
standards to prevent the flagstaff from falling 
back. In less than an hour it was erect, and the 
work of tamping in the dirt and stone around the 
base was in order, and soon completed. 

And now for the flag! 

‘‘Tell us. Professor, why the attaching of the 
flag on the cord, or halliards, is called bending' 
itr 

“The term comes from heraldry, and it origi- 
nally designated two diagonal lines across the 
field of an escutcheon. Later on, sailors bent the 
ends of the flags or ensigns on the halliards, or 
around the yards, and also called the fastening of 
a cable to the anchor a bend ; a knot is also desig- 
nated by them as a bend; the form of the ship 
from the keel to the top of the side is called a 
bend, as, the midship bend.” 

A strong rope had been seamed in the end of 


182 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


tlie flag, and eyelets worked at intervals, so that 
the task of attaching it to the halliards was soon 
performed. 

^The raising of the national emblem for the 
first time in any new country has always been re- 
garded as an event of the greatest importance, 
as it represents sovereignty and responsibility. 
On this occasion,” said the Professor, as he re- 
moved his hat, “let us honor the flag with appro- 
priate ceremonies.” 

At that moment Eed Angel concluded he would 
also take part, and in an instant was at the pole 
and scrambled upwardly. Wlien the top was 
reached he caught sight of the wheel. It moved 
Every time he grasped the rope the wheel would 
turn. 

This seriously interrupted the program. The 
Professor could not help laughing. A moment 
before he was particularly grave, and the boys 
had no feelings of mirth; but now this new ele- 
ment in the proceedings added gaiety to the occa- 
sion. 

“Come down, you rascal! Come down! Do 
you hear me?” cried George. Eed Angel didn’t 
hear. He hung there and smiled ; yes, smiled, as 
he looked down, while playing with the wheel. 
“We can’t put up the flag while he is there.” 
George walked over to the wagon, and took out 
the honey pot. Eed Angel saw it, but made no 
motion to come down. The honey pot was held 
up as an inducement, but there was nothing in 
the world so fascinating just then as that wheel. 

Harry and the Professor laughed at the situ- 



Red Angel saw George* s design, and without saying a word 
he slowly descended** 


[See p. 183] 



■J. , 



# 








% 


i. . 


ir. 




1 . 


■V 
• .1 


d ^ ?i»; 


» r 


ii 


Ak '.'^ 

«. ► < 


A. 


■IV 




- .'IX 



1^. ^ * 


. -. • 




t'. 



■Vr.»f ' 

i *.T 



<v -7 


• i* 



1 . » 




4 


• I 


y-*' 

r . 

“ ' * ■> ■' ^ ' ^ 


It 



'n V* 


f- a 




>>] 


r 


t\ ,.« 


< ; 
♦ 


A* 

I 



a 


■• 'it’ 

ft* ^-*WP 





I '1 




)H 


'ai)':^ 

' -j' ■ IL 




■ * 


EAISING OF FLAG 


183 


ation. Just to think of it! An orang-outan 
actually preventing a foreign power from hoist- 
ing the emblem of possession over his native land ! 
It was too ludicrous for words. 

George actually became almost hysterical as he 
threw himself back on the seat of the wagon and 
held up the honey pot, while laughing. “What 
do you think that little scamp has been doing? 
He has eaten every bit of the honey.” That only 
added another fit of laughter, and when it sub- 
sided, and George could recover his voice, he 
added, “and wasnT this a smart thing to do?” as 
he held up the vessel. 

“What?” asked Harry, momentarily straighten- 
ing out his face. 

“He actually put the lid back after he got 
through.” 

But this could not last indefinitely. No one 
suggested a remedy, if there was one. The United 
States must take possession in the proper way; 
hats must come otf; the flag must go up slowly, 
and the band must play the national air; — the 
music, they had not thought of it before. 

“Can you climb the pole, George?” asked the 
Professor. 

“I think so, with the aid of the halliard.” 

He approached the pole. “Do you hear me, 
Baby, come down! Come down, I say!” 

Bed Angel saw George’s design, and without 
saying a word he slowly descended, shambled over 
to the wagon, and hanging on the side of the 
box, looked around to the company in the most 
reproachful manner. 


184 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


The hoisting of the flag was, indeed, a solemn 
thing, but it had its amusing side, and when, with 
uncovered heads, the flag went up to the masthead 
and stopped there, the Professor said: “We 
should have had music to make it more appropri- 
ate, but as we have no band, let us sing ‘The Star- 
Spangled Banner.’ ” 

The boys were both good singers, as the Pro- 
fessor knew. The song was started, but before 
the first line was finished, they broke down and 
tears began to come; the Professor, with his 
hands clasped and head bowed, did not look up, 
nor was he surprised when they stopped. The 
boys had a suspicion that even he could not have 
carried that song a single bar. They were power- 
less to go on. 

When the Professor did look up and gaze on the 
flag, the boys saw his tears ; they were ashamed 
no longer, and their eyes looked up, too. 

In a voice which sounded almost strange to the 
boys, the Professor said; “We take possession 
of this land in the name of the United States 
of America, and give notice that we shall defend 
the same against all powers.” 

Then, as the beautiful flag unfurled itself, and 
threw its waving shadow on the ground that it 
now protected, they looked down, and there was 
Red Angel, close beside them, looking up at the 
flag as though he understood what it meant, and 
his silence gave consent to the solemn act which 
transferred his allegiance to a greater power. 

As they were about to descend the hill the 


EAISING OF FLAG 185 

Professor called them to a halt. “Do you intend 
to leave the flag at full mastf’ 

They had entirely forgotten to half mast it. 
“And now,” said Harry, “if they can’t see that 
flag we’ll make one big enough next time.” 

As they went down the hill, they could not help 
looking back over and over, to admire the flag 
and the pole, and everything connected with it. 
They knew every thread and every piece of it. 
Somehow it seemed to be a part of them. 

There was always a sentimental streak in 
George. “I can’t help thinking that is the most 
beautiful flag in the world ; I suppose other people 
think the same of their flag. How did flags come 
to be used by people?” 

“The flag is the successor of the banner, which 
is taken from the Celtic word ^band.’ The Bible 
mentions banners, showing they were used early 
in scriptural history. The banners of the Eomans, 
used in their warfares, were essentially different 
from modern flags, colors and ensigns ; they were 
carvings of wood or metal, some of them repre- 
senting eagles, like the Persian standard described 
by Xenophon. In the Middle Ages it was a con- 
necting link between the military and the clergy. 
The crescent and the cross symbols typified the 
two great contending forces of the world at that 
time.” 

Eeturning to their home, tired with the exer- 
tions, they sat in the living room and talked over 
the events of the day. Somehow, they felt that 
the day was too sacred to be desecrated with fur- 
ther toil. They congratulated each other at the 


186 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


success in raising the pole, as that was a matter 
which had given them a great deal of concern. 

Ever since the day on which they commenced 
work on the electric battery the boys deplored 
the lack of glass. If they could make that it 
would be of such immense importance to them in 
many ways. It would be of great service for 
their tableware; they could use it for their elec- 
tric work, which interested them more than any 
branch to which their time had been given, among 
the mechanical arts; with that they could make 
thermometers and testing instruments; and give 
their house the air of a modem home, because 
windows could be put in. 

^AVill it be difficult to make glass?” asked 
George. 

‘Tt is an exceedingly simple matter to make 
glass — that is, to fuse or melt it. The difficult 
part is the art of making it, either by the blowing 
process, or by making the flat forms, like window 
panes and the like. Owing to the simplicity in 
preparing it, the making of glass articles was 
known at a very early date, certainly fifteen hun- 
dred years before the beginning of the Christian 
era. In the first stages only opaque glass was 
produced, and it was not until eight hundred years 
later that the first transparent product was manu- 
factured. Under Pharaoh it was one of the prod- 
ucts extensively made and exported to Phonecia 
and other Mediterranean ports. Five hundred 
years before Christ, Aristophanes mentions glass 
or crystal vessels, but as its value at that time was 


EAISING OF FLAG 187 

next to gold it could not have been a common 
article.” 

“What is glass made of?” 

“Simply common sand. Sand is the ground up 
particles of quartz, and may be found almost 
everywhere. The principal thing is to get the 
pure quartz. In connection an alkali of some kind 
must be used.” 

“What is an alkali?” 

“A substance which is the exact opposite of an 
acid. Potash, soda and hartshorn (or ammonia) 
are the best known. They have most remarkable 
chemical activities, and an alkali united with an 
acid entirely neutralizes or destroys the activity 
of both. The compound produced by the union 
of an acid and an alkali is termed a salt.” 

“What is the effect of using an alkali with the 
quartz sand?” 

“Quartz possesses all the qualities of an acid, 
so that when the alkali is fused with the quartz 
a neutral substance, unlike either, is formed.” 

“What kind of alkali is best to use?” 

“That depends on what it is to be used for. 
Quartz and lime make a fine window glass product. 
Bottle glass is usually made of soda and quartz; 
window glass is also made of quartz, soda and 
lime ; plate glass of quartz, lime, soda and potash ; 
and flint glass has only the alkalis, potash and 
oxide of lead.” 

“Well, for our purposes, wouldn’t it be better 
to make the glass out of quartz and lime if win- 
dows can be made out of it?” 

“By all means, for several reasons: We have 


188 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


the lime on hand, and also because it makes a 
very hard article/’ 

‘‘What can we melt it up inf’ 

“The clay retort or crucible will just be the 
thing for the purpose, and the first thing in the 
morning I will make a tour to a point close at 
hand, where I think we shall be able to get a good 
quality.” 

The boys were astir in the morning earlier than 
usual. They had a new impulse — something to 
learn and to do. Harry busied himself with put- 
ting the crucible in order, and in getting the fuel. 
George, after his usual morning’s work, brought 
in the lime, and broke it up preparatory to grind- 
ing it up into small particles, so that it would inti- 
mately mix with the sand. 

Within an hour the Professor returned with 
several samples of sand, either of which, he 
thought, would make a good article. The yaks 
were hitched up, and George went with him to 
get a good supply. 

“How much do you think we ought to make up 
at first!” 

“Several gallons of the sand will do for the 
experiment.” 

“What kind of article should be made with the 
first trial!” 

“We might make some window glass. It is true 
it will not be transparent, but it will be trans- 
lucent, and so will give us light, as well as though 
it should be transparent.” 

“What is translucent glass !” 

“Where the surface of a cast plate is polished 


EAISING OF FLAG 


189 


the material is such that you can see through it, 
but if it is left rough it is impossible to see through 
it, although it will permit light to go through. 
The term applied to such glass is translucent.” 

‘Tf light will pass through, why is it the eye 
cannot see through it?” 

‘‘A powerful magnifying glass shows that the 
surface of unpolished glass is formed by a layer 
of crystals, or of sand, with the faces projecting 
out in all directions and at all angles. The result 
is, that a beam of light from the eye strikes one or 
more of these faces and is diverted from a straight 
line through the glass. As all the rays are thus 
changed from a direct course, confusion results, 
and the eye distinguishes nothing.” 

Several bushels of the sand were brought to 
the laboratory, and the Professor then directed 
the preparation of a half dozen slate slabs, each 
slab being nearly two feet square. He explained 
that in practice iron plates were used, but as they 
had nothing of that kind available, slate would 
answer admirably. 

“The slate slabs must be heated, and when the 
fused material is poured on the slabs, the heat 
must be kept up for a short time and gradually 
cooled down.” 

“What is the object in doing that?” 

“If cooled too suddenly the plates will crack, 
but by heating the slates and then cooling them 
down gradually, we anneal the glass, in a measure. 
You remember how we annealed the steel by grad- 
ually cooling it down? Glass, however, cannot be 


190 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


annealed so that it will not fracture, although at- 
tempts have been made for years to find a means 
for doing it. The man who can discover a process 
that will enable it to bend without breaking, can 
command any price for the discovery.” 


CHAPTER XV 


MYSTEEIOUS HAPPENINGS ON THE ISLAND 

The Professor supervised every part of the 
operation with the utmost care. ‘^Before the 
plates are heated you must put a raised margin 
around each slate square, so the molten material 
will not run oft.” 

‘^How high shall we make the margins!” 

“About a quarter inch above the surface of the 
slate.” 

“As we are now ready to heat up the crucible, 
how shall the materials be mixed!” 



“For this trial, measure out eight quarts of sand 
and two quarts of the lime, and after depositing 
it in the crucible, we are ready for the heat.” 

In a short time, with the assistance of the 
blower, which has already been described, the sand 
191 


192 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


began to melt. It was now stirred so that the 
elements were tborongbly mingled. During the 
melting period the dross or impurities which came 
to the top were skimmed oil, and when no more 
of the impurities collected the Professor stated 
that they might remove the crucible and pour the 
melted mass into small pockets, which they had 
previously formed with clay. 

“Why not pour this on the slate forms we 
made?” 

“Because we must know that we have a good 
sample of glass, and for the further reason that 
the product we are now to make should have some 
glass in it that has already been fluxed before, 
and we now have such a manufactured material.” 

The material which had been cast in the pockets 
was broken up with a hammer, as soon as it had 
cooled, and its appearance noted. 

“I see we shall have to use less lime.” 

“Why?” 

“You will note that it is too white or milky- 
like. This shows too much lime and consequently 
it is very brittle.” 

“Suppose, on the other hand, there was too lit- 
tle lime, what would be the result?” 

“We should then have a glass which would not 
hang together at all. In the one case, as with the 
present sample, with too much lime in it, we have 
made a product which is closely allied to the alka- 
line base; and if we had, on the other hand, too 
little lime, we should have something which is 
nearly like quartz, hence not suitable for our pur- 
pose.” 


MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS 193 


“It seems, then, we have to do in this case just 
as Red Angel did, make a test sample 

“This allusion to their pet caused a smile all 
around. 

Since the trip made by onr colonists two months 
before they made no effort to gain any additional 
knowledge of their island. What they really knew 
of the country, aside from two of the trips made 
in the interior, under very unfavorable circum- 
stances, was of no value as a means of locating 
the natives. 

That the island was inhabited there could no 
longer be any reason to doubt. The fire plot on 
the banks of the Cataract River, the lights near 
the woods beyond the West River, the finding of 
the arrows, and the mysterious use of the boat 
which had so strangely disappeared from the falls 
in South River, to say nothing of the removal of 
the flag and flagstaff, were evidences which could 
not be disregarded. 

The further investigations which they must 
make for their own safety was one of the impel- 
ling steps which determined them to build another 
boat. The discovery of the wrecked portion of 
the lifeboat and the decision to utilize the recov- 
ered portion for the new craft had facilitated 
their preparations somewhat, but there was still 
a great deal of work to do. 

They had six imperfect guns, as they called 
them, mere pistols, muzzle-loaders, with barrels 
eight inches long, and the powder was not the best 
which could be made. Everything was crude and 
imperfect, and to boldly venture out among sav- 


194 EXPLORING THE ISLAND 

age tribes with such an equipment would not be 
wise. 

All these things were considered in their con- 
ferences. But another matter was suggested by 
the Professor, which carried some weight. A sail 
had been seen by them. There could be no ques- 
tion on that point. Other ships might come again, 
and now that they had a flag of such proportions 
that it would be seen miles further than the orig- 
inal one, it was possible that the opportunity of 
rescue might be more likely from their side of the 
island than anywhere else. 

It was certain that if a ship should, in their ab- 
sence, reach the port, and even discover their 
home through the instrumentality of the evidence 
which they had left at the signal flag, there was 
no assurance that the vessel would await their re- 
turn, or undertake the mission of rescuing them 
from the savages, if they should be so unfortunate 
as to be captured. 

It was a most distracting thing to solve. It was 
not only perplexing, but exceedingly trying, to feel 
that at any moment a visit might be expected 
from the natives. 

Nevertheless, after all considerations, and giv- 
ing due weight to the likelihood that some ship 
might visit them, the building of the boat was de- 
cided on, and it was to be of such a character 
that it could circumnavigate the island. They be- 
lieved it to be their first duty to do this. 

This was the Professor’s view : If we can build 
a boat large enough, and make it of sufficient 
strength to carry us and the provisions we must 


MYSTEEIOUS HAPPENINGS 195 


take with us, on such a voyage, we should, at 
some point in our tour, find the natives, and deter- 
mine their character.” 

^'But, supposing. Professor, that they discover 
our boat and should pursue us 

^‘My reply to that is, that our vessel must be 
made of sufficient size and strength to outsail them. 
My opinion is that the most they have is canoes, 
and we could readily cope with them. The diffi- 
culty is this: If we should be discovered, their 
curiosity, to say the least, would be sufficient to 
cause them to trail us along the shore, and it would 
be exceedingly uncomfortable to have them follow 
us around the shores to our home. Afloat, in 
strange localities, on an uncharted sea, at night, 
is a trying situation with a sailor, even though 
he has all the instruments of navigation at his com- 
mand. To go ashore, under the circumstances, 
knowing that the savages are in wait, would be 
fully as dangerous.” 

To Harry’s practical turn of mind, there was 
another feature that might be considered. ‘^Some 
time ago you stated. Professor, that it was quite 
possible we had an island near us as a neighbor, 
and from which we may have had visitors. If 
such is likely to be the case, our boat will be the 
means of enabling us to reach that island, because 
if they have boats of sufficient size to come here 
they will be civilized, at any rate.” 

It will thus be seen from a consideration of all 
the conditions what determined them to increase 
the dimensions of the proposed new boat, although 


196 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


it would consume more time than they had orig- 
inally contemplated. 

‘^Do you remember, hoys, that it is now about 
one year since we left the harbor of New York 
on our voyage in the training ship Investigator^* 

‘^Yes, and we have been on this island for nine 
months,” answered George. ‘T can hardly believe 
it possible.” 

What might be called spring was now at hand, 
and as the warm rains had quickened the vegeta- 
tion, the Professor suggested that it would be pru- 
dent to devote some time to the planting of such 
crops as could be utilized by them. Barley was a 
crop which grew in sufficient quantities all about 
them, so that no care need be taken in that direc- 
tion. 

Garden vegetables would be needed most. Wild 
potatoes grew in many places, but when they were 
needed search had to be made. Endives, which 
made excellent greens, could also be found, to- 
gether with the cassava, and a variety of peas; 
but aside from the foregoing, nothing else was 
available. 

While talking on this subject one day the Pro- 
fessor remarked: ‘Tn my wanderings I found 
quite a variety of plants that we might utilize in 
our proposed garden or farm. One of them is a 
small, triangularly formed, dark brown seed, 
which you may recognize.” 

^‘That,” was Harry^s answer, ^dooks something 
like our buckwheat.” 

^Wou are right ; I found several varieties ; none 
of them exactly like the kind grown in the States, 


MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS 197 


but we can readily propagate it, so that it will 
be practically the same.” 

‘^How is the propagation done, so as to bring 
about the change?” 

‘Tt is merely a careful selection of the best 
varieties of the particular plant, and by budding, 
grafting, or inarching, transmitting the qualities 
of the good kind to the stalk or tree which bears 
the inferior kind. That is done with vegetation 
which is perennial, like fruit trees and the like.” 





“But how could any of these methods be used 
with the buckwheat!” 

“An entirely different method is used in culti- 
vating vegetation of that kind. You probably 
have seen wild oats growing here, as in the States. 
In its wild or native state the grains are so small 
as to be utterly -useless. It is found that by tak- 
ing this wild plant and changing the soil in which 
it grows, the seed will finally develop and become 
larger, until, in time, we get the full grain. The 


198 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


same thing is true in the development of fruit ^ 
which is full of seeds. The banana in its wild 
state is full of seeds. By this process of culti- 
vation it has finally become entirely seedless, and 
the value of the fruit greatly enhanced.” 

Beyond the Cataract was a low and level stretch 
of meadow, which the Professor thought was rich 
and could be readily worked, and it was the field 
which they determined to devote to agricultural 
purposes. 

In the meantime, the plans for the boat were 
developed. A description of the recovered after 
part of the life-boat will make their plans better 
understood. When they landed on the rock, and 
its forward part was crushed and washed away, 
they saw the stern portion lodged in a saddle in 
the rocks. It was there for an instant only, as 
the next wave dislodged it, and when it was eventu- 
ally found, months afterwards, it had caught in 
the rocks a hundred feet further inland. 

The part which they recovered was still in a 
good condition, but the ruptured portion of the 
hull was a broken up and splintered mass, so 
that it would require considerable work to pre- 
pare it to receive the bow part which was now 
to be grafted on. 

It had been originally sixteen feet long, with a 
five-foot beam. Harry’s plan was to increase the 
new vessel to a length of twenty feet, and its ex- 
treme breadth six and a half feet, and in order to 
give greater security and carrying capacity, it 
should have a depth of two and a half feet. 

‘‘How much are you calculating on for the 


MYSTERIOUS HAPPENINGS 199 


weight to be carried on the new boat?” Was the 
Professor’s question. 

“I am estimating that the passenger weight will 
be 400 pounds and the weight of the boat itself 
at 500 pounds.” 

‘^That is a very liberal estimate. Have you 
considered the mast and sails 

^^That is something entirely beyond my knowl- 
edge. I do not know what kind of sail; or how 
large it shall be ; nor the length or size of the masts. 
If I knew something about the kinds of sails used 
for vessels I might be able to decide on that as 
well as the other parts.” 

“The term ship, as usually applied, has refer- 
ence to a vessel furnished with a bowsprit and 
three masts — a mainmast, a foremast and a miz- 
zenmast ; and these three masts are each composed 
of three parts, namely, a lowermast, a topmast, 
and a topgallant mast.” 

“The bowsprit is that mast which projects for- 
ward from the bow, isn’t it !” 

“Yes. In small vessels the cutter and the sloop 
have single masts, the difference being that in the 
cutter the jib-boom has no stay to support it.” 

“What’s the difference between the jib-boom 
and the bowsprit ; they both project out from the 
bow of the vessel?” 

“The bowsprit projects out only a little for- 
ward of the bow, and the jib-boom is attached to 
the forward end of the bowsprit.” 

“Well, if we are to have only one mast, should 
we have a bowsprit ?” 

“It is not necessary, for the reason that in a 


200 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


small boat the boom, as it is called, to stretch the 
foot of the sail, runs ont directly from the foot of 
the mast to which it is pivotally hinged.” 

‘^Then it would be better to have a single mast 
and a triangular sail, one side of the sail to be 
attached to the mast, and one of the other sides 
to the boom?” 

“Yes; excepting that the sail must not be at- 
tached to the shaft, but to a cable which is run 
up the mast.” 

As the vessel was intended not for speed, but 
for safety and for ease of management, it was 
finally decided that the mast should be twenty 
feet long, and the boom sixteen feet, thus giving 
a sail area, approximately, of 150 square feet. 


CHAPTEE XVI 

DISCOVEKY OF THE SAVAGES^ HUTS 

While it was true that up to this time they 
had indirect evidence only of the existence of 
human beings on the island, several events oc- 
curred, at this time, which not only pointed more 
clearly to such a condition, but they began to feel 
that leaving the Cataract would be a hazardous 
thing. 

The first incident occurred during one of the 
hunting erxpeditions in which the boys engaged. 
It had been their custom to penetrate the forest 
below the South Eiver, not very far, it is true, but 
the sport there was most exhilarating to them after 
each week’s work. 

The Professor had always encouraged this. 
‘Wou have not taken your usual weekly outing,” 
he remarked, ^‘and I feel we ought to have some 
wild game. If you have time, on your next trip, 
make it a point to explore the region to the south 
and west of the falls.” 

^^That section interests me also,” answered 
George. have often wished we could go down 
near the mountain range.” 

‘^Couldn’t you go with usf’ interposed Harry, 
^‘and let us make a day of it?” 

“I should like to do so,” he replied. “But I have 
good reason for declining at this time, on account 
of some special work which is attracting my atten- 
201 


202 EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


tion, particularly in preparing tlie instruments we 
shall need on our voyage.” 

“That is true,” answered George. “But we shall 
certainly start early enough in the morning to 
enable us to visit that section, and go far enough 
to get some idea of what it looks like near the 
•mountain.” 

“It would be a good idea,” suggested Harry, “to 
take the team along, as far as the river, at any 
rate, and that will give us an opportunity to ride 
going and coming. In that way it will help us.” 

“Yes; and to carry the game,” said George, with 
a laugh. 

“If you bag as big game as you did on the last 
trip, you will need the wagon,” replied the Pro- 
fessor. 

They were on the way early in the morning, 
with the guns and plenty of ammunition, and be- 
fore nine o’clock reached the river. Scarcity of 
rains had considerably lowered the stream, and 
they discussed the advisability of fording the team 
across. 

“I am in favor of the idea, if the stream isn’t 
too deep. It seems to be shallow enough.” 

“Suppose, George, we take out the raft, and try 
the depth. If we find the animals will have to 
swim, we had better leave them on this side.” 

The raft was launched, and it was pushed out 
with the poles, but before going very far it was 
seen that the idea was impracticable, and it might 
be a hazardous operation. 

“This won’t do. Besides, we may not be able 
to go into the woods very far, in any event.” 


DISCOVEEY OF SAVAGES 


203 


‘^Then,” said Harry, “we must select a good 
place for the team, where they will be in reach of 
water, and cut plenty of feed for the yaks, as I 
can see a good half day’s sport before us.” 

“I hope, Harry, we shall not make the mistake 
of getting lost this time. Let us keep the sun in 
mind, and watch our bearings at all times.” 

“The mountains to the south will always be a 
guide for us. Don’t forget that. ’Then, we shall 
also know the river is to the north, or in the oppo- 
site direction from the mountains.” 

“So that we may know just where the team is, 
we must take a note of its location. See the four 
large trees near the other bank. I think we can 
remember them, and can see them for some dis- 
tance.” 

The raft was pushed across the river, and when 
it had been properly secured, they began the march 
directly to the southwest, and within a half hour 
reached the border line of the great forest. 

“Six months ago I would have dreaded to enter 
such a dense wood as this,” said George. 

“I was thinking of that, too,” replied Harry. 
“Isn’t it singular how we become used to dan- 
gers? This is fun now. I can never forget the 
first long trip we made through the forest to the 
west of the Cataract. I was frightened at every 
step, and started at the least noise.”. 

As they entered, the underbrush, grew thinner, 
but the trees were more massive and thicker, and 
they were so close together, in many places, that 
little sunlight found its way through the foliage. 

“I would like to know, Harry, how we can tell 


204 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


where the mountains are? The trees do not give 
us an opportunity.” 

‘T suppose we shall have to depend on the sun 
altogether.” 

‘‘Yes ; it is now forenoon, and we must not for- 
get that the shadow will point in a different direc- 
tion in six hours from now.” 

“I have taken note of that,” replied Harry. 
“We are now following our shadow, see? In six 
hours, which will be about four o’clock, which 
direction must we go to reach the wagon, judg- 
ing by the shadow?” 

“Let me see; the shadow is to the southwes 
now. At four this afternoon, it will be about 
southeast, so, I suppose, we shall have to take a 
course with the shadow at our right hand.” 

“Correct ! I haven’t forgotten that point about 
the shadows. It’s really simple if you stop to 
reason it out.” 

Although numerous small animals appeared at 
frequent intervals, neither had an opportunity to 
try his skill, because up to that time the boys had 
been too intent on noting tjie direction of their 
route. The course was kept up due southwest, as 
planned. 

“Did you ever see such a gloomy place?” re- 
marked George. “If it wasn’t for the chirping of 
the birds and the chatter of the little animals it 
would make me feel mighty lonely.” 

“Ah! there is something!” quietly whispered 
Harry, as he held out his arm, as though to re- 
strain George. “See that animal slinking away?” 

“Where?” 


DISCOVERY OF SAVAGES 205 

“Almost directly in front. Come closer. See 
that broken tree V' 

“That’s an ocelot,” exclaimed George. 

“Are yon sure?” 

“Just like the ones we got.” 

“Oh, this one’s much larger.” 

“Shall we make a try for him?” 

“Certainly; if we can get close enough,” an- 
swered Harry. 

The boys moved forward stealthily, using the 
most convenient trees to hide their movements. 
The animal was very wary, and the boys knew 
that the distance was too great to attempt a shot. 

“Let us keep on after him. We may get a 
chance sooner or later,” remarked Harry, eagerly. 

But the animal kept beyond their reach, and 
after a half hour it finally forged ahead with such 
speed that it was soon lost to view, to the great 
disappointment of the hunters. 

“Now, if we can get a glimpse of the sun we 
shall know what our direction is. This is the most 
wonderful forest I have ever seen.” 

“It seems to me we have gone considerably to 
the right. How far are we from the river, ac- 
cording to your calculations ?” 

“Well, Harry, I am not good at guessing, but I 
suppose we have traveled at a pretty lively rate 
while going after the ocelot. We certainly made 
two miles trailing him ; and it was as much more 
from the river to the forest. I should say we are 
fully six miles from it.” 

“I wish we could get a glimpse of the moun- 
tains,” answered Harry. “I wonder why the Pro- 


206 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


lessor has always been so anxious to investigate 
this part of the island 

‘^That is a mystery to me. It may be merely 
a natural curiosity.” 

The boys noted the gradual ascent they were 
making now, and it was also obvious that the 
trees were not so thick nor so tall, in comparison 
with those farther north. 

‘^Do you suppose we are near the base of the 
mountain?” asked Harry. 

^Tt must be we are near it, or we should not be 
going up so gradually, as we have done for the 
last hour.” 

When several more miles had been added, the 
woods thinned out perceptibly, and when the clear- 
ing was sufficient to enable them to get the first 
glimpse to the south, Harry remarked: 

‘‘Well, there are the mountains, and they seem 
as far away as when we left the river. Suppose 
we follow this ridge to the west. You see, there 
is another forest between us and the mountains.” 

As they advanced the trees were smaller, and 
there was every evidence that this was a young 
forest. There was an abundance of the finest 
grass, and here they found immense flocks of beau- 
tiful pheasants and numerous other birds that 
were unknown to the boys, and it was not long 
until they had more than a dozen of different vari- 
eties. 

“This is getting to be a pretty heavy load,” re- 
marked Harry. “I think it would be a good plan 
to find a place for the game, and then come back 
and take it as we return.” 


DISCOVERY OF SAVAGES 207 

‘‘Yes ; we ought to do that. What time do you 
suppose it isT’ 

“It must be past noon, and I am pretty hungry. 
Why not take our luncheon nowf^ 

“Good idea. Look over to the right. It seems 
pretty clear there, and the two large trees there 
will make a good point to aim for on our way back. 
We can use the log there to rest and spread out 
our luncheon on,” remarked George, as he pointed 
to the direction of the trees. 

He kept looking in that direction intently, as 
Harry watched him. “What do you see?” Harry 
asked. 

“That looks like a hut.” 

“So it does,” replied Harry, excitedly. “It may 
be only a large rock, however,” he continued. 

“No ; it doesnT look like a rock to me. Let us 
move up closer.” 

The object was fully a thousand feet away, and 
on a slight crest with few trees about. It was 
round-topped, very uneven in its outline, which 
gave it the appearance of a large boulder. 

The boys approached cautiously, and as they 
came nearer, another but smaller object of the 
same character was noticed to the left. 

“That is surely a hut of some kind. See the 
door at the side of the one to the left?” 

“You may be right, Harry, but this seems to 
be an out-of-the-way place for a village or habi- 
tation. You know the Professor stated on one 
occasion, that even savages were smart enough to 
plan their homes near running water, and why 
they should select this place, when they could 


208 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


easily find plenty of water not far away, is some- 
thing I can’t understand.” 

‘^Dead sure there is nobody here now. Look at 
the vines growing across the door opening. Isn’t 
this a find ? I wish the Professor could see this.” 

‘^Better wait wishing until we see it. We might 
find something that will surprise us.” 

‘^All right, George; let us get up, closer; I am 
anxious to see the door of the big hut. Let us 
go around to the other side.” 

Without approaching the clearing which ex- 
tended out a considerable distance from the huts, 
the boys made a circle, until the open door of 
the large one was in sight, and they were, there- 
fore, directly behind the smaller hut. 

‘^Now let us go up behind this one. If there 
is anybody in the large one we can easily see 
him,” quietly remarked Harry. 

The weeds all about indicated that no one was 
living there at the time, but they were still too 
far from the main structure to be able to judge 
positively. 

What’s this?” asked George, kicking at some 
broad-leaved specimens of vegetables. ‘‘See, they 
are in rows. Some one has had a garden here; 
that is sure.” 

“This is certainly getting to be interesting. No ; 
I don’t believe there is any one about. Still I 
don’t like the idea of going up to that big hut 
with the open door.” 

The boys looked at each other inquiringly. The 
question was, what to do and how to do it. 


DISCOVEEY OF SAVAGES 209 

“Suppose we fire a shot; that ought to arouse 
them/’ 

“That would be a good idea, Harry, but I hate 
to waste the shot. We might call, and see if we 
can get an answer.” 

The plan was adopted and after each “Hello !” 
a slight answering echo came back. There was no 
response, and they boldly marched up to the open 
doorway. 

There was no light within, other than that 
through the door, except a little streak from an 
opening, due to the partially decayed coating of 
the hut. There was sufficient light, however, to 
show that this had been occupied by people who 
were very primitive, as in the interior, at one side, 
was a pile of bones, scattered about, and a few 
broken clay vessels, as well as several clam shells, 
which had been ground to a cutting edge, the ex- 
amination of which caused the boys to smile. 

“Well, what do you think of this? Nothing but 
bones and dirt everywhere. I suppose it must 
have been occupied by the savages.” 

The large hut was circular in form, not exceed- 
ing twelve or fifteen feet in diameter, and its ex- 
treme height was probably eight feet. It was 
built of a framework of saplings, the thickest of 
them not exceeding two inches in diameter, which 
had been planted in the earth, and then had the 
tops bent over and bound together. 

Smaller branches, or withes, were then run 
around and interlaced, so as to make the web 
fairly close, and over this was plastered a species 
of blue clay, which, when dried and baked by the 


210 EXPLORING THE ISLAND 

sun, formed an impervious coating that kept out 
the rain. 

The hoys marveled at the construction, because 
this was the first example of savage architecture 
they had seen. The smaller hut was distant about 
fifty feet, similarly made, but smaller in diameter. 

^^Let us examine the other place. Possibly that • 
will give us some clue,” and Harry started across 
the intervening space, while George was still rum- 
maging about, uncovering the odds and ends and 
raking them toward the door. 

Before Harry reached the hut, George cried out : 
^^Come here, Harry; I have found something.” 
And he held up a scrap of paper. ^Tf the savages 
have been here they have left something that looks 
like writing.” 

Harry was back in an instant, and leaned over 
George’s shoulder as he tried to make out the 
scrawls on the piece of blackened and crumpled 
sheet which he was smoothing out. The paper 
was about four by six inches in size, and evidently 
a good quality of wrapping paper, known as 
manilla. 

‘‘There are words here, sure enough. Look at 
this — it must be a name. Yes; can you read it I 
‘Rogers.’ But who has signed it ? Can you make 
that out?” 

“Well, if there is one scrap, the chances are 
there must be some more. Let us get this stutf 
out of here.” 

“But be careful, Harry. I found this by the 
merest accident, and as it is, you will see I have 
torn it.” 


DISCOVERY OF SEWAGES 


211 


A more careful search was now begun, and every 
scrap was raked out and examined. A brass but- 
ton was among the things; a buckle; the broken 
blade of a knife ; a little metal disk, which might 
have been part of a locket case; a steel ring, all 
rusted and about two inches in diameter. 

As these things were successively brought to 
light, it dawned on the boys that this might well 
have been the homes of savages, and the articles 
mentioned were likely taken from captives. The 
message on the paper, if it could be deciphered, 
might be the most valuable clue, but they were 
reserving that for examination later on, when they 
could have the assistance of the Professor. 

The important thing now was to go over every 
bit of material in both places, and then make a 
survey of the surrounding country. It set at 
doubt all questions in their minds about the inhabi- 
tants of the country. 

The small hut was visited, and here the litter 
was still more profuse, but after every scrap had 
been gone over, there was nothing to add to the 
small accumulation which they had taken from the 
other hut. 

^^Shall we go any farther!^’ asked George. 

“It seems to me that this is enough for one day. 
Before going back, however, let us look all around 
this place. You know the Professor will be sure 
to want to know everything about it.” 

Directly west of the knoll, on which the huts 
were situated, was a slight declivity. “Let us go 
down the hill for several hundred feet,” said 


212 EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 

George, as lie led the way through the tangled 
brush. 

Within a hundred feet of the hut was a little 
brook, with the clearest cold water. can see 
why the huts were placed there. Look at that 
spring.” 

Within fifty feet of their position was a slightly 
shelving rock, and below it a bubbling spring flow- 
ing upwardly into a semicircular basin formed in 
the rock. 

George ran forward and made a quick survey. 
^‘Here is a metal drinking cup, just as they left 
it. My, but iLs heavy!” 

wonder what it is made of? Here, rub it.” 

Only a few passes were made over it, when he 
held it up in astonishment. ‘‘Why, it looks like 
silver.” 

“So it does,” broke in Harry. “But what is this 
on the side? See those initials: ‘A.W.^” 

“I must have a drink before I leave this,” and 
Harry removed the little copper cup which he 
always carried. “What a peculiar water this is! 
It must be a kind of mineral water.” 

“Yes,” responded George ; “that is sulphur 
water, or it has considerable sulphur in it.” 

“I wonder if this was a health resort for the 
savages?” asked Harry, as he laughed. 

“Let’s start for home at once,” remarked George, 
without noticing Harry’s sarcastic fling at the poor 
inhabitants. 


CHAPTER XVII 


THE GEIM EVIDENCE IN THE HILLS 

The boys secured a convenient pole, over which 
they slung the braces of game, and started out on 
the march for the river. It was fully three o’clock 
before they were ready to start. 

‘^See here, Harry, there is something we have 
forgotten, and I begin to feel it now.” 

What is that f ’ 

‘^Our luncheon.” 

‘T was so excited and interested that I forgot 
all about it until now. Why not go back to the 
spring and take luncheon there?” 

‘^With that water? I’d rather wait until we 
get to the river.” 

^^Well, let’s take something, anyhow. I am 
mighty hungry. Funny we didn’t think of it be- 
fore.” 

^^Now for our direction. Do you think we can 
strike the river at the right place?” 

^T’ll be perfectly satisfied if we strike the river 
anywhere.” 

^^Then why not go directly north, and we can 
reach it a mile or two sooner than the way we are 
now going.” 

‘‘Good idea ! Here we go !” 

It was a lucky thing that they decided to take a 
different course from the river, because they soon 
discovered that the ridge they were on ran for a 
213 


214 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


long distance almost directly north, and that the 
woods were not nearly so dense as they were in the 
course they had followed. 

At frequent intervals they came upon new game, 
and brought down a number of additional speci- 
mens, until Harry protested against any further 
stopping. 

“It seems to me we have enough to last a week, 
and it is getting mighty heavy at this end of the 
pole.” 

“Well, it does seem to be an awful distance over 
to the river. Are you sure we aren’t mixed up 
in the direction?” 

“Of course not. The mountains are right be- 
hind us, and the shadow at our right. You can’t 
fool me the second time,” answered Harry, as he 
shifted the pole to the other shoulder. 

While thus talking they caught the first glimpse 
of the river, and it was hailed with delight. 

“Whenever I get near the old river it feels 
like home. My ! how I would like to put in several 
days in a further hunt over toward the moun- 
tains. I am sure we would turn up something 
there.” 

They reached the river a considerable distance 
above the falls, and without stopping to rest, went 
down along the bank for a full hour before they 
came within hearing of the rushing water. 

They sat down on the craggy rocks alongside 
of the stream and took a good rest. “This will 
be interesting news for the Professor,” said 
George, musingly, as he watched the rushing 
stream. 


GEIM EVIDENCE 


215 


^^Indeed, it will. I should not be surprised to 
find that the natives are directly south of us, or 
rather west of the mountains.” 

“That may account for the fact that they have 
never been near our part of the island.” 

When they took up the load to resume the jour- 
ney, it was still heavier, apparently, than before, 
and they were now so thoroughly tired that fre- 
quent stops were made, but in another hour they 
had the satisfaction of seeing the large trees that 
had been singled out for their guidance. 

It was a great relief to deposit the load on the 
raft, and it did not take long to swing the raft 
under the wagon and start the yaks on the home- 
ward journey. The Cataract came in sight before 
six in the evening, and the Professor was on hand 
to welcome them. 

“Did you have a good time?” he inquired; but 
as he looked over the tailboard and saw the fruit 
of the hunt, exclaimed: “You must have gotten 
everything over there.” 

“Yes, and something else besides that,” said 
Harry in such a tone that the Professor anxiously 
asked : 

“What ; have you made any discoveries ?” 

“Look at that,” replied George, as he carefully 
drew out the discolored paper with the writing on 
it. “We not only found this, but we discovered 
some huts — two of them, fully six miles or more 
southwest of the falls.” 

The ProfessoPs eyes opened wide. “This is, 
indeed, interesting. But never mind about telling 
me now. Let us get the team unhitched and ex- 


216 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


amine tliis when we get inside. I had a suspicion 
that the other side of the river would give us some 
clue.” 

While Harry and the Professor were putting up 
the team George prepared several of the pheasants 
for the evening meal, and they were soon in the 
oven. By common consent the meal was of more 
importance than the new finds, and when the dishes 
were removed the paper was carefully examined. 

^Tf I knew jusf what was used for the writing, 
I might suggest something that would bring it out 
more clearly. It is evident that the writer did not 
use ink.” 

‘Why do you think sof’ 

“Simply for the reason that this name, Rogers, 
which is the most plainly written, has the words 
only on the surface of the paper. If ink had been 
used it would have penetrated the fiber, and the 
writing would thus have been preserved.” 

“Where did you find the paper?” 

“It was among a mass of rubbish, which, on ac- 
count of the poor light, was raked out to a point 
nearer the door, so we could examine the material 
better, and I don’t know whether it was with the 
pile of bones or with the stutf on the other side.” 

“Was the grass about the hut as high as the 
grass round about the place?” 

“It seemed to be. We made a pretty careful ex- 
amination all over, so as to give us a fair idea of 
the condition of things.” 

“How far was the spring from the hut?” 

“Less than a hundred feet.” 

“By the way,” remarked Harry, “we forgot 


GEIM EVIDENCE 


217 


to say that close to the small hut we found some 
vegetables growing in several rows, and weeds 
all over the place and between the vegetables.” 

“Do you think,” asked George, “that the vege- 
table garden is any sign that white people have 
been living there ?” 

“It may be ; but the lowest savages have usually 
some form of knowledge about raising and caring 
for vegetables, so we should not count too much 
on that. This cup here seems to indicate the pres- 
ence of some civilized being, whoever he may be.” 

“It is just as likely, is it not, that the savages 
ma}^ have captured a prisoner who had the cup!” 

“That is one solution. This writing is. the most 
important piece of information we have had up to 
this time. It is not at all likely that the natives 
would preserve it, so that the only conclusion I 
can draw from it is, that the one who wrote the 
message, or the one who got the paper, was at 
the hut, and now the important thing is to arrive 
at some sort of idea when, and what the message 
means.” 

“It does not seem,” remarked Harry, as he care- 
fully scanned the paper, “that we can make out 
more than a few of the words. Here is the word 
which looks like Tiver.’ Yes; I am sure of that.’^ 

“And besides that the words ^oD and a capital 
letter and something that looks like ^r-e-n,’ 
which may be simply part of a word,” added 
George. 

“As this is simply ordinary wrapping paper, it 
is likely that it may have no meaning whatever. 
Still, I have been trying to recall whether anyone 


218 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


on shipboard had a name that these initials would 
fit. My limited knowledge in that direction does 
not help me, I confess.” 

^^What do you suppose the cup is made of I” 

“That is undoubtedly silver, or some alloy of 
metals of which silver is the principal part. It is 
very hard, as you notice. It is certainly a singular 
thing that a vessel of this kind should be left at 
the springs, if the owner of it was there, and it 
is just as remarkable that the natives would permit 
it to remain there. I now regard the finding of 
the cup as of far more importance than the paper, 
because of these considerations.” 

“Well, the finding of the huts, and these arti- 
cles, are pretty strong arguments in favor of our 
purpose to find the people who owned the things 
we found there,” responded Harry. 

“But I have also a little news to impart,” said 
the Professor. 

“What is it?” asked the boys in concert. 

“I have found a companion to the skeleton we 
discovered on the beach, and also some informa- 
tion about the inhabitants of the island.” 

“Tell us about it. Where did you come across 
it?” 

“It isn’t much of a story; but an hour or so 
after you left, I felt like taking a little stroll, so 
I crossed the valley east of us, and skirted the 
incline beyond, going toward the cliffs fronting 
the sea. Ever since we found the skeleton I felt 
that, unless washed out to sea, there might be 
some other traces of the wreck. 

“I was quite unprepared to make any searches 


GEIM EVIDENCE 


219 


along the hillside, except for evidences of min- 
erals, and particularly to note the peculiar out- 
cropping of the rock on this side of the ridge 
which terminates at Observation Hill. 

‘^The backbone of the ridge is limestone, and 
after I had reached a certain level I noted, all 
along, that the rock had remarkably wide cleav- 
ages ; that is where there had been breaks in the 
rock the seams opened, and in some places I found 
recesses fully six feet wide, and thus caverns, 
sometimes thirty or forty feet in length, would be 
formed. 

‘‘I explored some of them in the hope that it 
would lead me to a cave of some extent, but in 
this I was disappointed. Such may be the case, 
but I have not discovered anything which leads 
me to believe that there are other caves than the 
one we explored. 

entered one of those, which was a long way 
this side of Observation point, and there, on a 
rude sort of improvised wooden cot, was a skele- 
ton. I found a half dozen arrows, lying near, but 
neither a bow nor any other kind of weapon was 
anywhere in sight. 

^^The skeleton showed that it was the remains 
of a tall man, past middle age, undoubtedly, and 
there was no evidence that he came to his death 
by any wound which effected a fracture of any of 
his bones. The cot on which the skeleton reposed 
was made of pieces of wood, in a complete state 
of decay, and there was not a vestige of clothing, 
jewelry or pocket articles at or near the bones. 

“I found two of the arrows near one hand, and 


220 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


the others lying about. Here they are. Handle 
them carefully, as they are decayed, and will read- 
ily fall to pieces, unless you use the utmost care. 
That is my story. I hunted all about the vicinity, 
hoping that I might find some additional clues, but 
I was disappointed.” 

‘‘Do you think he had any connection with the 
skeleton we found on shore!” 

“No; it does not seem likely. My reason for 
saying so is, that it would take several years for 
wood to decay, as you see in the case of these 
arrows, and the cot had the heaviest portions all 
rotted. In my opinion this skeleton shows greater 
age.” 

“Under conditions of that kind, what sort of 
story could you weave out of it, so as to determine 
what happened to him!” 

“It is decidedly more interesting than our ad- 
venture, and about as difficult to gather any infor- 
mation from,” answered Harry. 

“In my opinion, the man died from starvation, 
as you say he had no tools or implements of any 
kind,” replied George. 

“That may be ; but it appears entirely different 
to me. The man was, undoubtedly, cast ashore, 
or was shipwrecked. We have evidence that this 
island is noted for taking in people that way. He 
may or he may not have had clothing, but in 
either event, he could not starve in a place like 
this, with vegetation around him everywhere and 
at all seasons of the year. 

“I am picturing this condition of affairs in my 
mind: He was, no doubt, out in quest of food. 


GRIM EVIDENCE 


221 


when he was attacked by the natives and escaped 
from them. He was wounded by them, and when 
he reached his shelter, removed the arrows, as I 
found them near his bones. It is probable that 
his wounds proved fatal shortly after he reached 
the cave.” 

^^But how do you account for the cot on which 
he was lying?” 

^^It would be the most natural thing for him to 
find a place to shelter himself. That would be 
the first thing to do ; just as he had a place to 
retreat to, and was fortunate enough to elude his 
pursuers, who were not aware of the hiding 
place.” 

“That seems reasonable,” remarked George. 
“But it seems to point one way sure ; that we have 
a pretty tough lot of people on the island to deal 
with, and satisfies me that we are going about 
it the right way, in making the proper prepara- 
tions for the time when we must meet them.” 


CHAPTER XVin 


STEANGE DISCOVEKY OP A COMPANION LIFEBOAT 

The greatest activity was now manifested in 
every direction. The Professor was here, there 
and everywhere, taking part in every sort of labor 
which the ditferent work required. Part of the 
time he was in the meadow where George was en- 
gaged in plowing np an acre of ground for the 
garden. 

It must not be concluded for one moment, that 
the scheme of eventually leaving the island had 
been forgotten and that their preparation for 
planting crops foreboded an indefinite stay. 

It will be recalled that the Professor knew what 
idleness and an unoccupied mind would do to the 
boys in their situation. He tried in many insidi- 
ous ways to stimulate the boys to think out and 
carry forward original work, and in almost every 
instance he succeeded in doing this in such a way 
that the boys themselves suggested the work to 
be done. 

Harry was the builder, and the utilizer of the 
knowledge gained, and George was content at the 
arrangement which kept him in the workshop with 
the tools, while he gladly did the most of the out- 
door duties. 

For two weeks the boys worked without a 
thought of relaxation, and on this occasion, as on 
many others, it was incumbent on the Professor 
222 


STEANGE DISCOVEEY 


223 


to suggest a day of sport. It was the only direc- 
tion in which he at any time tried to wield the 
energies of the boys, and from this you may infer 
how intensely they were interested in the marvel- 
ous developments day by day, of which they were 
the important factors. 

^AYell,” said Harry, must confess that I had 
entirely forgotten our arrangement to devote a 
day each week to hunting and explorations, and I 
didn’t miss it.” 

^‘Nor did I,” was George’s reply: ‘‘I suppose 
we shall have to go, as I imagine the Professor 
wants to have some sport,” and he laughed at the 
sly dig which he had given him. 

The Professor smiled. ^^You are right, George, 
old as I am, I am in for sport, and fun of any 
kind. Wliy, I am just as young as you are in 
feeling and desires, but the difficulty is that getting 
old is a habit with many people. It gets on their 
nerves; they get some reminder of old age every 
day of their lives, and sometimes hourly during 
the day. When this goes on for three, four, five 
or ten years, it is too much for the most of human- 
ity. It is taken as an accepted fact that old age 
means infirmity, and the break comes, not really 
because the body is weak and worn out, but be- 
cause the mental state has contributed too much to 
the idea that they are no longer young and cannot 
be youthful, and are getting too old to enjoy things 
that others delight in.” 

The all-absorbing topic at the evening confer- 
ence was to determine where the hunting exploits 
should next take place ; whether to the west, where 


224 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAXD 


tliey had witnessed the fight between the bears for 
the honey tree, or to the other side of the South 
Eiver, which they called their hunting preserves. 

Heretofore, George had been anxious to do all 
the hunting along the river, but now he kept sug- 
gesting the forest to the west, and it eventually 
turned out that the real reason was on account 
of the supply of honey giving out ; and he had an 
idea that, as they had not seen any trees with 
honey indications anywhere else, in their wander- 
ings, that would be the proper place to go. 

His views prevailed, but it was a two-da^^s’ jour- 
ney, there and back. That was the only objection ; 
and considering that they had not taken a vaca- 
tion for two weeks, this was not an extraordinary 
thing to do, notwithstanding the urgent work 
which they had started on the boat and in the agri- 
cultural line. 

The next morning the yaks were yoked, the 
wagons supplied with their usual camping equip- 
ment, tools, weapons, provisions and the like, and 
a start was made before ten o^clock. 

By agreement a course was marked out farther 
south than was taken on their previous trips, be- 
cause they had never explored the country imme- 
diately north of the South Eiver, except beyond 
the falls, and it was their aim to learn every foot 
of the territory. 

On their way they passed the mysterious hole 
where George had his experience, and the route 
was also close to the spot where Harry found 
him when he was lost. Both places were again vis- 
ited, so that samples of rock might be taken from 


STRANGE DISCOVERY 


225 


one of the places, and the Professor hoped the 
clay bed on the small creek might indicate the 
proximity of other metals than they had been able 
to find previously. 

Late that evening they reached the edge of the 
main forest, and a camp made for the night. Red 
Angel was with them. He was as happy at the 
sight of the forest as an orang well could be. It 
was his delight to exhibit his skill as a climber 
on these occasions, and where the woods were 
dense he would spring from limb to limb with 
surprising agility. 

During the night, as on several previous trips, 
Angel exhibited his nervousness, which was at- 
tributed to the presence of some animal that 
alarmed him, but otherwise nothing disturbed the 
camp. 

‘‘How far do you think we are from the falls 
asked Harry. 

The Professor made a mental calculation as he 
replied: “We cannot be far east of it; possibly 
five or ten miles at most, and it is very likely sev- 
eral miles south. Since you suggest it, we might 
deviate from our route anS take it in, as to do 
so will not take up more than two hours of our 
time. It interests me because I have not examined 
the place from which our boat was taken. That 
is one of the mysteries I am most interested in.” 

George was anxious to get a solution of that 
singular occurrence and jumped at the opportu- 
nity to go there. A southwesterly course was at 
once marked out, and after traveling about three 
hours George’s alert ear caught a sound, as he was 


226 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


at that time leading the advance. Running back 
he called out : ‘‘Do you hear that peculiar 
sound 

The wagon stopped. In the stillness around 
them they could hear a faint murmuring sound. 

“Do you know what that is f ^ The boys looked 
at each other. “I think,” continued the Professor, 
“that must be the falls.” 

“Then why not turn to the left and go directly 
to the river?” 

They did so, and within fifteen minutes the 
river was in sight. A further trip of ten minutes 
brought them to the foot of the falls, where the 
boat had been deposited nearly five months be- 
fore and which had so mysteriously disappeared, 
only to be recovered by them and again lost by 
accident, as detailed. 

A search along the river bank failed to reveal 
any trace of the tree overhanging the stream, 
where the oars had been placed, and instead the 
river washed out a small bay. All along the banks 
were evidences of washouts which piled up drift- 
wood every place along the shore where there was 
a root or snag which would hold the accumula- 
tions. The Professor wandered down the stream, 
pulling out and examining pieces of the limbs, to 
find, if possible, whether there were any evidences 
of the drift having been cut by human agencies. 

So far as could be seen, the limbs had all been 
broken, not cut, and this was a relief, in a sense. 
The South River drained a large part of the 
island, and it might rightly be inferred that the 
driftwood in a stream of this kind, if it flowed 


STEANGE DISCOVEEY 227 

through a region inhabited by man, would show 
some signs which they might interpret. 

As they were returning George pointed across 
the river at a peculiarly shaped log, or what ap- 
peared to be portion of a large tree. The river 
at this point was about seventy-five feet wide. 
The Professor was silent for some time. ‘‘My 
eyesight is not of the best, but it does not look to 
me like a tree.^’ 

“I can easily swim the stream,” and Harry had 
his clothing off in short order, and plunged in. 
Gaining the other side, he drew himself up, and 
without touching a thing in and about the debris, 
called out excitedly : “It is a boat, something like 
our lifeboat! Yes; it is exactly like our boat!” 

“Can you dislodge it? If not, Ifil come over.” 

“Never mind, I can manage it, I think.” 

The interior of the boat was filled with accumu- 
lated material of all sorts, principally leaves and 
bark, and when it had been lightened of all that 
weight Harry put his shoulder against the stern 
and soon succeeded in dislodging it from its seat 
against the tree which held it a prisoner. 

Just before he had it in a position to launch 
the Professor called out: “Don’t put it in the 
water until you have found something which will 
serve as a paddle.” The stream at this point, 
being less than a half mile below the falls, had a 
fairly good current, so that without an oar of some 
kind he would not be able readily to get it across. 

“I can’t find any signs of oars, so I will take a 
piece of this wood.” 

He ferried it across, and landed a hundred feet 


228 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


below. As be neared the shore George sprang 
toward it excitedly, and cried ont ; ^^Look at that ! 
See the name, Tnvestigator’ V’ 

Harry stopped rowing, and bent over the side 
of the craft; there, plainly, near the stern, was 
the word ^Tnvestigator” followed by the letter 
The space beyond the letter L was broken, and 
if anything else had originally been in that space 
it had been brushed oft by contact with some out- 
side object. 

This was, undoubtedly, one of the companion 
lifeboats of their ill-fated ship. 

‘^How do you suppose this boat ever got here V’ 

“It undoubtedly came over the falls, and if so, 
it must have come from the interior of the island. 
My only solution is, that our companions in this 
boat were also, like us, cast ashore, or, at any 
rate, the boat itself was, and if they reached land 
safely probably used this boat on the river.” 

“Isn’t it singular that this boat has been treated 
just as our boat was, since they removed the 
lockers? Why should they do that?” 

“The interesting thing to me is,” answered the 
Professor, “why the boat was lost by them, if it 
ever was in the possession of our friends on the 
island?” 

“Possibly the natives may have captured or 
killed them.” 

“That is a plausible explanation, but there may 
be a reason which is entirely different from any- 
thing which now occurs to us. I believe a search 
of the island will show that we are not the only 
white people living here, and that the loss of the 


STEANGE DISCOVEEY 


229 


boat indicates that they are hot on friendly terms 
with the natives.” 

All thoughts of hunting were now dissipated. 
It did not interest them in the least. 

They sat down and debated the discovery. Un- 
doubtedly, it had drifted down South Eiver and 
gone over the falls, as the indented sides and 
bottom of the boat plainly showed. How far had 
the river carried it before the falls were reached! 
It was a matter of regret now that they had 
passed up the river before the animal trail in their 
path had caused them to leave it, instead of try- 
ing to discover its source. 

Something must be done. Their companions 
must be in peril. That was a situation hinted at 
by the Professor. They had a duty to perform, 
if such should turn out to be the case. With many 
misgivings they decided that they must follow up 
the stream, cost what it might. No provision had 
been made for a lengthy trip, but, fortunately, they 
had plenty of ammunition, and as to food, they 
could supplement what they had by forage along 
the way, as they had often done before. 

‘^What shall we do with the boat!” 

^^Let us find a place for it far enough from the 
shore to be beyond reach of the river, and hide it, 
so there will be no further danger of its disap- 
pearance.” 

^^We are so used to have things get away from 
us that it has become a habit,” said Harry, laugh- 
ing. 

While they were engaged in the task of draw- 
ing the boat up, Eed Angel appeared, excitedly 


230 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


chattering and endeavoring to attract their atten- 
tion, and frequently running back in the direction 
of the wagon. 

‘‘What is the matter with him? I never saw 
him with such antics before.” George, who had 
the greatest control over him, ran up and tried to 
catch him, but the little fellow avoided capture, 
and whenever George would get near he would 
spring toward the wagon, keeping up his excited 
gesticulations all the while. 

The Professor now ran forward without an- 
other word, and Harry stood there wondering 
what had happened, or was about to happen. As 
he ran past George, who was still trying to get 
Angel, the Professor merely said: “He is try- 
ing to get you to go to the wagon.” 

The boys understood, and both started on a 
run. Harry was the first to get there. The team 
had disappeared ! 

Their further adventures on the island are re- 
lated in the next book, entitled “The Mysteries of 
the Caverns.” 


GLOSSARY OF WORDS 

USED IN TEXT 


Absorb. To take into; or to take up into itself. 

Accomplish- Fulfillment; completion; perfection, 
ment. 

Accumulation. Adding to; to bring together. 


Acquired. 

Activities. 

Adjacent. 

Affinity. 

Agility. 

Agitated. 

Albumen. 

Alkali. 

Allegiance. 

Allied. 

Allusion. 

Alternative. 

Altitude. 

Ammonia. 

Analyzed. 

Anticipated. 

Antics. 

To take; the act of getting anything. 

Exertion of energy; action. 

Close to; near the object referred to. 

Any natural feeling, drawing, liking, inclination, or 
affection for another. 

Quick; sprightly. 

Excited; much perturbed. 

The chief substance in an egg. The nutritive mate- 
rial within a seed. 

Any substance that will neutralize an acid. 

An obligation of fidelity that an individual owes. 
Attached to; bound to; an arrangement with. 
Referred to; to speak of. 

First one and then the other, and so on. 

The height; the top; the high part. 

A colorless, pungent, suffocating gas, found in small 
quantities in the air and in mineral waters. 

To separate; to find the principal parts of anything. 
Looking forward to the future ; to expect ; to forecast. 
Grotesque; ridiculous, fantastic action, prank or 
caper. 


Appendage. Belonging to; to hang or attach to. 
Approximating. Close to; in the neighborhood of. 


Aquatic. 

Arbitrary. 

Astringent. 

Pertaining to water ; as a water ( aquatic ) animal. 
Stubborn ; determination to do, whether right or 
wrong. 

Having, as a sour fruit or acid, the power to contract 
or draw together. 


Atmosphere. The air we breathe ; composed of four parts of nitro- 
gen and one part of oxygen, principally. 

231 


232 EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


Attributed. 

Bacteria. 

Base Line. 

Battery. 

Bleaching. 

Bovine. 

Calisaya. 

Camphor. 

Carbon. 
Carbonic acid. 
Carbonize. 
Ceremonies. 

Charcoal. 

Charged. 

Chicory. 


Circuiting. 

Clarified. 

Coke. 

Conspicuous. 

Cortege. 

Contracted. 

Coagulated. 

Comprises. 

Conclusive. 

Constipated. 

Concerted. 

Contingency. 

Corrosive. 

Complicated. 

Compressible. 


Belonging to; to assign; refer, as an effect to a 
cause. 

A microscopic microbe, very minute, widely distrib- 
uted in all matter. 

A term used to designate a starting point for sur- 
veyors, or for builders in laying out work. 

Usually applied to a series of cells for generating 
or storing electricity. 

The process for whitening any substance, either by 
the action of the sun or by chemicals. 

Pertaining to the common cow species. 

A weed which has a bitter principle from which a 
variety of quinine is extracted. 

A white, volatile, tough, gum-like, translucent sub- 
stance, with a peculiar pungent tastj and smell. 

One of the four principal elements. Coke; charcoal. 

A heavy, colorless, incombustible gas. 

To put in the form of a coke or charcoal. 

A formal act, rite, or observance, either religious or 
otherwise. 

Wood from which the lighter or more volatile gases 
have been abstracted by heat. 

Referring to a battery, or cell, which has been sup- 
plied with liquid ; or anything filled with material. 

A product, used as a substitute for or an adulterant 
of coffee, containing a bitter principle, and made 
from the root of the endive and other similar 
plants. 

The term applied to the wiring of a battery or other 
electrical apparatus. 

Liquid which has been relieved of floating matter. 

Coal from which the most volatile gases have been 
taken by heat. 

Very plain; easily observed. 

A train of equipages at a funeral. 

Something brought down, or compressed into a 
smaller bulk. 

Changing the form of solid matter in liquids. 

That of which any article is made up. 

A finality; the end. 

A morbid condition of the bowels. 

Acting together, or in unison. 

The awaiting of an event ; in the event of. 

The action, usually of an acid, like rust. 

Mixed up; difficult to understand. 

That which may be put into a smaller compass. 


Coincidence. 

Commotion. 

Compound. 

Crenate. 

Crenelated. 

Crucible. 

Critically. 

Crater. 

Crystal. 

Cubic. 

Curtailed. 

Dentate. 

Density. 

Dehaired. 

Debris. 

Devoid. 

Devious. 

Delicacies. 

Decreasing. 

Dejection. 

Discrimination. 

Discomfiture. 

Distracting. 

Dissipated. 

Dilemma. 

Diagonally. 

Discordant. 

Disinfectant. 

Dross. 

Domain. 

Dynamo. 

Elude. 

Elongated. 

Enumerate. 

Endive. 

Enhanced. 


GLOSSARY 233 

One fact happening with another, or at the same 
time. 

In an uproar; not in order. 

Made up of two or more substances. 

Scalloped or toothed by even, rounded notches. 
Furnished with flutes and indentations. 

A receptacle for melting ores and the like. 

In a low state; very ill; the danger point. 

An open cavity of a volcano. 

Glass; transparent substances which are rigid. 

A body having six sides. 

Cut off ; only a part of. 

Tooth-like; made somewhat in the form of a tooth. 
The substance; the body, or the weight. 

Material, like hides, from which the hair has been 
removed. 

Accumulation of material. 

Left without; having nothing. 

In a roundabout way. 

Anything which is a luxury; that tastes well. 
Growing less. 

Downcast; not happy. 

Capacity to judge; to be able to pick out; to act well. 
Routed; disappointment; defeat. 

To turn aside for something claiming attention. 

To scatter or to fritter away. 

A quandary; difficult position or thing to judge or 
consider. 

Going across corners. The longest distance across, 
starting from a base. 

Not in tune; not agreeable; not in harmony with. 
Any substance which will destroy germs or purify 
air, water, or foods. 

The refuse; the impurities in a substance. 

The country, nation, or the particular area or dis- 
trict owned by an individual. 

A machine for generating electricity. 

To evade the search of ; to avoid pursuit. 

Made longer than normally, or greater in one direc- 
tion than in another. 

To take note of; to number. 

A salad, well known here and in Europe; the root 
produces the well-known chicory substance. 

Made better ; put into a more advantageous condition. 


234 

Emitted. 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


Escutcheon. 

Essential. 

Essence. 

Eventually. 

Evolved. 

Exhausted. 

Exultant. 

Exerted. 

Exhilarating. 

Facility. 

Fantastic. 

Fermentation. 


Filament. 

Fissures. 

Flail. 

Flux. 

Formation. 


Frantically. 

Friction. 

Fulcrum. 

Fused. 

Gaseous. 

Gelatin. 

Generated. 

Gesticulation. 

Germs. 

Geological. 

Glutin. 

Glaize. 

Gravity. 

Halliards. 

Harmonize. 

Horizon. 


To give out; like the rays from a light; or blown 
out from the mouth or nostrils. 

The shield or helmet of a warrior, or the ensign of 
a house or family. 

The particular thing; the important element. 

The extract or the principal element in a substance. 

Finally; at the last. 

Taken out of; brought forth; made from something 
else. 

Entirely removed; drawn off; reduced. 

Joyfully; rejoicing greatly. 

Making every effort; straining. 

A lively, pleasing or enlivening sensation. 

With ease; readily accomplished. 

A peculiar or abnormal condition. 

A chemical condition where germs are developed and 
grow in a substance and change the elements com- 
prising it. 

A thread-like element, usually made of carbon and 
employed in the exhausted electric bulb. 

The openings, cleavages, or splits in rock or other 
formations. 

An article formerly used for threshing out grain. 

A substance used in connection with welding of melt- 
ing liquids to facilitate the process. 

The term applied to the manner in which rock, ores, 
or other geological substances are united or ar- 
ranged. 

Excessive excitement from anger or otherwise. 

The rubbing together of substances. Contact. 

The pivotal point. 

Melting of ores or metals. 

Any substance which is neither a solid nor a liquid. 

A transparent, tasteless substance obtained from ani- 
mal tissue. 

To evolve from; to make; to originate. 

The making of motions, especially when excited. 

An original element; the first form. 

That which pertains to the study of the structure of 
the earth. 

Similar to gelatin; the nutritious element of wheat. 

The coating of a hard, flint-like film on pottery. 

The attraction of mass for mass. 

The ropes for holding a flag or banner. 

To be brought into unison with. 

The point where the earth and sky meet. 


GLOSSAEY 


235 


Horizontal. 

Hysterically. 

Identically. 

Hluminating. 

Immoderately. 

Immemorial. 

Imperfect. 

Impetuous. 

Impulse. 

Insecurity. 

Intervening. 

Instrumental- 

ity. 

Insidious. 

Intact. 

Instinct. 

Interval. 

Indented. 

Intimately. 

Irrigating. 

Infectious. 

Identified. 

Incandescent. 

Innumerable. 

Lavished. 

Laboratory. 

Leavened. 

Lentils. 

Lumbering. 

Ludicrous. 

Luxuries. 

Mineralogical. 

Manifest. 

Neutralize. 

Nitrogen. 

Nutrition. 

Observant. 

Obstructions. 


Level. The surface of water is horizontal. 

An uncontrollable laughter. 

The same; similar to. 

To light up; to make brighter. 

More than usual; beyond the ordinary. 

From very ancient times. 

Not in the best condition. 

Hastily; without considering consequences. 

A sudden mental motion or feeling. 

Not sure of safety. 

Placed between; something between. 

By the agency of; by means of which it is accom- 
plished. 

Doing or planning a thing without the knowledge of 
the victim. 

Unbroken; whole; in good condition. 

A knowledge which comes from the internal senses. 
Not continuous; having spaces or periods between. 
To cut into or to notch. 

Closely associated; friendly. 

To cover the ground with moisture by artificial 
methods. 

Transmitting diseases by passing from one to an- 
other; catching. 

Pointed out; knowledge from some mark or other- 
wise. 

Heated up so that it has illuminating qualities. 
Without number. A large quantity; a great many. 
Given out without stint; liberal. 

A workshop ; a testing room ; experimental works. 
The term used to indicate the raising of dough. 

A kind of greens, largely used in Europe. 

Clumsily; huge; encumbered by bulk. 

Amusing; calculated to amuse. 

Extravagant indulgences in pleasures. 

Pertaining to mines, ores, and similar arts. 

Made known; acknowledged; understood. 

Made unlike either; the effect of uniting an acid and 
an alkali. 

One of the four principal elements. The lightest of 
all substances. 

Food; the substance which is required for the sus- 
tenance of plants or animals. 

Noticing; seeing; taking note of. 

In the way of; impediments. 


236 


EXPLORING THE ISLAND 


Octave. 

Odor. 

Ominous. 

Orifice. 

Organisms. 

Oxygen. 

Paralysis. 

Parlance. 

Perceived. 

Perplexity. 

Petals. 

Persistent. 

Pelts. 

Perspective. 


Perceptible. 

Perennial. 

Permanence. 

Pitch. 

Plateau. 

Plausible. 

Philosopher. 

Phosphorus. 


Port. 

Potter^s 

Wheel. 

Primary. 

Precipitate. 

Prudence. 

Prosperity. 

Precede. 

Primitive. 

Precaution. 

Propagate. 


CJomposed of eight. A musical measure or scale. 

The quality in a substance which renders its pres- 
ence known by the smell. 

Of the nature of or marked by some omen. 

A hole; an opening. 

A body or substance that is in a proper condition for 
growth or development. 

One of the four principal elements. One-fifth of 
air and one-third of water is oxygen. 

Loss of ability to control muscular motion. 

A mode of speech; a phrase; a particular sentence. 

Noticed ; observed. 

Puzzling; distracted. 

One of the leaves, or the subordinate part of the leaf. 

Firm and resolved. 

The skin of an animal with the hair on. 

The art or theory of representing by a drawing made 
on a fiat surface so it will appear as not lying in 
that surface. 

Noticeable; able to be seen. 

Not planted each year. Wheat is sowti each year. 
An apple tree grows on from year to year. 

Something that keeps on or continues. 

The inclination, as the roof of a house; a high or a 
low musical tone. 

A rather level elevated portion of ground. 

Appearing to be true; likelihood. 

One who seeks first truths ; the underlying principles. 

A non-metallic element which readily absorbs oxygen 
from the air, and exhibits a glow by slow com- 
bustion. 

A haven. A home for a ship. 

A horizontal wheel revolving on a vertical spindle 
on which pottery forms are made. 

First. Applied to a form of electric battery which 
generates a current by means of metals and liquids. 

Throwing down, as applied to chemistry ; causing the 
solid matter in a liquid to go to the bottom. 

Care; caution; ability to look out for the future. 

Success in business; doing well. 

To go before; the one ahead. 

The first way of doing things; the original plan or 
method. 

Taking care; going slowly and with caution. 

To bring to a better condition or state. Making an 
improved breed or type from plants or animals. 


GLOSSARY 


237 


Projecting. 

Proximity. 

Phenomenon. 

Puncture. 

Pyramid. 

Quartz. 

Rabies. 

Ramie. 

Retort. 

Rejoinder. 

Relative. 

Registered. 

Replenished. 

Restrained. 

Reservoir. 

Reassuring. 

Reconciled. 

Regulation. 

Reagent. 


Relaxation. 

Sanitary. 

Sarcophagus. 

Scientific. 

Serviceable. 

Seismograph. 

Septic. 

Sewage. 

Serrate. 

Sentimental. 

Sequence. 

Shuffling. 

Shambled. 

Solution. 

Speculative. 

Specter. 

Sulphurous. 


Tiir owing or casting a shadow. 

Close to; in the neighborhood. 

Any new development; a startling sight; a natural 
occurrence out of the ordinary. 

To cut; to open; to tear. 

A solid with a broad base and a top with an apex. 
The hardest of the common minerals. A common 
rock. 

A disease the germs of which are carried by animals 
when in a certain diseased condition. 

A very important fibrous plant; for making rope and 
many articles of fabric. 

A heated furnace for the melting of pres and metals. 
An answer; a reply. 

In comparison with; proportionally. 

Taking note of; to keep account of. 

Taking new supply; a new helping. 

To hold back; to prevent. 

A tank or vessel bo hold liquids or other matter. 

To restore boldness or courage; to make certain. 

To bring content and to restore confidence. 

In accordance with some law or order established. 

A substance used chemically which will have an 
action on one or more substances in the sample 
treated. 

A change from the ordinary routine. 

Healthful; in a condition to preserve health. 

A stone burial place, carved out of rock. 

That which has a reason and a knowledge for each 
step. 

That which is of use; advantageous. 

An instrument by means of which shocks in the 
movement of the earth’s crust may be registered. 
Any substance that promotes putrefaction. 

The waste matter carried off from cities by the drains. 
Formed with saw-teeth. 

Involving or exciting the feelings or tender emotions. 
That which follows. 

Awkward or clumsy movements. 

A shuffling gait, allied to clumsy movements. 

To make out a problem ; in chemistry, the unity of 
two or more elements which will mix. 

Opposed to practical or experimental; taking a risk. 
A ghost; an apparition; a vision. 

From sulphur; having the qualities of sulphur. 


238 


EXPLOEING THE ISLAND 


stimulating. 

Sutures. 

Substitute. 

Subsided. 

Subterranean. 

Sulphate. 

Symptoms. 

Technically. 

Theoretically. 

Torso. 

Translucent. 

Transparent. 

Transversely. 

Transporting. 

Theorist. 

Triangular. 

Tubular. 

Typical. 

Utilize. 

Undeveloped. 

Unobtrusive. 

Vacuum. 

Vanquished. 

Vestige. 

Versed. 

Vibration. 

Veteran. 

V oluntarily. 

Vitrify. 

Weird. 


To rouse to activity or action. 

The saw- teeth united portions of the skull. 

Taken for or instead of something else. 

Going down ; quieted. 

Beneath the sea; below the waves. 

Sulphur united with any alkali to form a salt. 
Indications; the appearances which indicate certain 
diseases. 

Specially pertaining to some formal training in art, 
science or manufacture. 

Pertaining to knowledge which is not exact, but in 
the nature of speculation. 

The body, devoid of its limbs; the trunk. 

Capable of permitting light to pass through, but 
through which vision cannot pass. 

Any substance through which the eye can see. 
Across, at right angles. In the direction of the 
narrow way. 

Carrying; taking from place to place. 

One who speculates; one who tries to arrange facts 
to harmonize. 

Bounded by three sides, and which has three points. 
Like a pipe; a body with a hole through it. 

A sample ; a pattern ; an emblem. 

To take advantage of ; to turn to practical account. 
Not fully grown; not developed. 

Not willingly thrust forward, 

A space entirely devoid of matter. 

Overcome; subdued. 

A visible trace, mark or impression. 

Knowledge in a certain direction. 

Moving to and fro; a regular movement. 

One long trained in any service. 

Done of free w ill. 

Converted into glass, wholly or in part. 
Superstitious; imcanny; unearthly. 


THE "HOW-TO-DO-IT” BOOES 


Carpentry for Boys 

A book which treats, in a most practical and fascinating manner 
all subjects pertaining to the “ King of Trades showing the care 
and use of tools; drawing; designing, and the lajdng out of work; 
the principles involved in the building of various kinds of struc- 
tures, and the rudiments of architecture. It contains over two 
hundred and fifty illustrations made especially for this work, and 
includes also a complete glossary of the technical terms used in the 
art. The most comprehensive volume on ^this subject ever pub- 
lished for boys. 


Electricity for Boys 

The author has adopted the unique plan of setting forth the funda- 
mental principles in each phase of the science, and practically 
applying the work in the successive stages. It shows how the 
knowledge has been developed, and the reasons for the various 
phenomena, without using technical words so as to bring it within 
the compass of every boy. It has a complete glossary of terms, and 
is illustrated with two hundred original drawings. 


Practical Mechanics for Boys 

This book takes the beginner through a comprehensive series of 
practical shop work, in which the uses of tools, and the structure 
and handling of shop machinery are set forth; how they are utilized 
to perform the work, and the manner in which all dimensional work 
is carried out. Every subject is illustrated, and model building 
explained. It contains a glossary which comprises a new system of 
cross references, a feature that will prove a welcome departure in 
explaining subjects. Fully illustrated. 


Price 60 cents per volume 


THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 

147 Fourth Avenue New York 


The Hickory Ridge Boy Scouts 

A SERIES OF BOOKS FOR BOYS 

Which, in additioD to the interectins boy aoont atorie* by CAPTAIN ALAN 
DOUGLAS, Scoutmaster, contain articles on nature kure, native animals 
and a fund of other information pertainias to out-of-door life, 
that will appeal to the boy’s lore mi the open 


I. The Campfires of the Wolf Patrol 

Their first camping experience affords the scouts splendid opportunities to use 
their recently acquired knowledge in a practical way. Elmer Chenowcth, a lad 
from the northwest woods, astonishes everyone by his familiarity with camp 
life. A clean, wholesome story every boy should read. 

II. Woodcraft; or, How a Patrol LeacW Made Good 

This tale presents many stirring situations in which some of the boys are called 
upon to exercise all their ingenuity and unselfishness. A story filled with 
healthful excitement. 

III. Pathfinder; or. The Missing Tenderfoot 

Some mysteries are cleared up in a most unexpected way, greatly to the credit 
of our young friends. A variety of incidents follow fast, one after the other. 

IV. Fast Nine; or, a ChaJlenge From Fairfield 

They show the same team-work here as when in camp. The description of the 
final game with the team of a rival town, and the outcome thereof, form a 
stirring narrative. One of the best baseball stories of recent years. 

V. Great Hike; or. The Pride of The Khaki Troop 

After weeks of preparation the scouts start out on their greatest undertaking. 
Their march takes them far from home, and the good-natured rivalry of the 
different patrols furnishes many interesting and amusing situations. 

VI. Endurance Test; or. How Clear Grit Won the Day 

Few stories “get” us more than illustrations of pluck in the face of apparent 
failure. Our heroes show the stuff they are made of and surprise their most 
ardent admirers. One of the best stories Captain Douglas has written. 

Boy Scout Nature Lore to be Found in The Hickory Ridge 
Boy Scout Seriee 

Wild Animals of the United States — Tracking — in Number I. 

Trees and Wild Flowers of the United States in Number II. 

Reptiles of the United States in Number III. 

Fishes of the United States in Number IV. 

Insects of the United States in Number V. 

Birds of the United States in Number VI. 


Cloth Binding Covsr Illuatr''.tions in Four Color* 40c. Per Volume 


THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 

147 FOURTH AVENUE (near 14th St.) NEW YORK 


THE 

Campfire and Trail Series 


1 . In Camp on the Big Sunflower. 

2. The Rivals of the Trail. 

3. The Strange Cabin on Catamount Island. 

4. Lost in the Great Dismal Swamp. 

5. With Trapper Jim in the North Woods. 

6. Caught in a Forest Fire. 

By LAWRENCE J. I F-SI .IF. 


A series of wholesome stories for boys told 
in an interesting way and appealing to their 
love of the open. 


Each, / 2mo. Cloth. 40 cents per volume 


THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 
147 FOURTH AVENUE 
NEW YORK 


Christy Mathewson’s Book 

A Ripping Good 
Baseball Story 
by One Who 
Knows the Game 

s book has attained a 
sale than any baseball 
ver published, 
j narrative deals with the 
:$ of a large university 
and their baseball team, the members of which 
have names which enable the reader to recognize them 
as some of the foremost baseball stars of the day before 
their entrance into the major leagues. 

One gains a very clear idea of “inside baseball** 
stripped of wearisome technicalities. The book is pro- 
fusely illustrated throughout and contains also a number 
of plates showing the manner in which Mathewson 
throws his deceptive curves, together with brief descrip- 
tion of each. 

Cloth hound 53^ x 7^ ^rice 50c. per volume 

THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY 



147 FOURTH AVENUE 


NEW YORK 











• ' » • s <• ..W 

< • r* • *, 




f - 


• » 


A » 




> r 


A 


A'.;' 


4. 


p‘ • 

■ 

» • 

« 


• ' • 




u . 


■' . 


'-../-■-irf fe , 


. ^ .-w jL.' « _• f ■mi«.^’‘^< • ' 

• <* . -‘J,*'. .rf .‘4 :^'j' 

\. . • ' ^-' J-'' - b 



V \ 




■■ :> 


V '• V- - - 


-r • 


• .•‘^' • ' ■ »i 

I ■ ■, - « • • . ^. -u 

,.*^1*,. .*• ■ 


.4 




* n 


1^ 




' '* *> 



- /% .n' 

= 41^:'' •- 


^'-.'.*•.^*1 k- ^ ^..• 



-■ -'i* ■-■■■■■.# 


// 


• j;:: -sy ^ ^ 


• ' o 








-h:'>- 




r. 


: ■ 


■■ 


' .V-v*. 
-* • »:•’ 





V • « 




,. 'y-*. ;•■ ' . .#'. •./» \ 

' V V ■ ■ ■ ■'-. ^'. Ta, ~ 

■ • -c*- • ;r5^HkfcajL* *•':» *« . P 


'■ ' jr^*’ *r •^"'* 

;’|« ’• ■ ■ 

••. »A.r 








» ' 


s"-'* ^ f 

■ . ..s 






' ‘A^-1* f 







. 4 



' .-^ Vk . / »' 

'.v . .\i! ■' -i- 

* . ^ . • • - , wfvf-i. vf:.^ .• 7.V.*> 


V’-. 




-'55 .# ,A'- 


/• 


-V.3:2SLx: ■;, . .; 







t 





.^.t lift' '■■-’< ••■ < 1*S* < 






tr^ • 4 * . * • • ‘ 








1.'’ •V<v5.A,.' 


> i- 


tri' 

fV 

sai^*" 

^ i' 





rJ^^W f . , 


. r.’r'-' 




. V 


iT '■ 

*4 ' 


k ‘ 




‘ i* 



'. -1?:^. J. 





• • * • 
.•. / 


• / 


■.i‘ 




¥lL ..* ♦ 


• ^ 

/ 




Av 

V 


• c 


“• -. «. 

* vV- ' 



- ’ I V 


r.<^ .- -»J# ' •^■' 


'• I 





c, .. 

> ■ :% 

V'. 




•< . 






1> 


‘ '. 'ci 


i# • 

r* •• 


' ‘lyvi* 

' r* 




; ^ • ' • 

4-'.0 • • ■ -z 


,V' 


> t 


tr ■ 


V 




« 


'- -p '> 

•I' 




»• 

« ' ■■ 



*5 ‘'*>.‘r*’ * ' . 

X W • • • r ' . * 

vi* . ' ' . . ' 

•i* • -jf> . * • ^ 


A 

J 

A 




»< 






• . > 


■'/ ? 4. 

♦# ' ^..«- 


•1. : 


9k m 




^ <yr: 

\<T *i • 

i *•' 


' c ^ ^ ’ ►*• ^ 


•*. */ 

j-T *» 


& 


1^ 



. I* «i • ■% 

» t ■ 

• . ' ■ *’■ 


• 




' ,’ .. v, . /; ^ 


;» k 




-/- 

. • 


' - ‘tf 







* .*• T V "» J . *. W ^ • • U ‘i. ._^ ■■ . - \* V r I . ' * .^ • . .•f< ' /»• f 


m 



■'i . ' 


.-r. ■ -<•; 

- 

: • ' 4 LY^> . 'a! • 


.^.••r h/.. 






4. •» ;i/;^k.l •. 

i -'^'i ‘ ' '■' 


* i- 

/>' 




,. i 



* *" iLsJ^ ■ * 

" *-•' BRf ' 

' - 4 ^/:^ _ * • ». 



1 ^- ' •, -^^i- : 

'■ w^' ; ' 

7 ♦ , 's . 


» 

I « 


• '-A: 


• i..f 




.r* 




' • f 


) 


> 




% 


y 



•^•1 -V Lr* ■' '■ ■'] 

■ • 7 .< ' ' ■ 






•. 2 t * 


t I 


-At' 

: 


' L 





.,'-uv 


¥ ^^ 


> • ; .tv^ ? 

>« * 4 r * «mr ‘ ^ * 4 ^r 

^;^■■,;'':.^.■'W"P^ , :,t . ■',., 

•V 'fs , • -w A ' ‘.: 


»;.;i 

'f. - ^ 


^ 3.V * ^2.' A 

» « j.. itr 




• M 




■■■ ■ 

'> , ■■ ' ■ .. 




^ ^ • J ■)'■*•- ' ■■ ^ w . 

• • " ‘ • ni • I j 

'y*-' ->"'■■•; 

;jr' .■■ ■ . '.-•«* -• 5 

f>. . . '».• 

i*‘> #• . , 


-< •' 7 

* t ■ » 'y. 


V 


> 


L’.t* ■■ 'Vw**'*' ^ >• ■' ^ ‘ ' *'■'■'*• ►'ft*' )7 ^ 

Ih« * . 3e^^^E( ^^Bhbql ^ • •X \ •< . ♦ ' • ■ ' ii‘ '■ ' y' 


W- ■ .. • • > “ •• * 

" /i. * 




.j • . , . w. 



4 * k 


» * , ‘ 
\ . • '■ 

/. ^ 






.. A' 


■V '4 -' Y >■ ' •• f • 

' . w' r • 


AtA^A-\A 


A • < 

4'»* 


;•» 


^m -4 ' 

m>y ^ 

. 


i 2 S.''T;. >.v. 


<|fr' 


V ‘*‘ 







JpfTf. M - N.f *• > 

PiaMA 3 rv^;. V 






